Trent Frederic avenges Bruins teammate in heavyweight fight with Emil Lilleberg
"If you followed like the last time we played them, it kind of all stems from that."
The Bruins didn’t mince words last week when asked about Lightning defenseman Emil Lilleberg’s cross-check and subsequent scrap with fourth-line forward Mark Kastrelic.
Beyond the frustration of dropping a 4-1 result to the Bolts, the Bruins were irked with Lilleberg’s stick work against Kastelic, along with the several punches he landed against their teammate after he had already hit the ice.
“Just unnecessary all around,” Jeremy Swayman said last Thursday. “He’s the toughest guy in the league for a reason. He’s fighting a guy knocked out. It’s unbelievable to see that.”
“It’s a pretty cheap cross-check,” Morgan Geekie added. “I don’t blame him for what he did. I haven’t talked with him about anything. But, obviously, we’re not too happy about that.”
Even with Kastelic’s bout with Lilleberg coming with under 10 seconds remaining in regulation, another extended skirmish broke out between Boston and Tampa skaters once the final horn blared — signaling more unfinished business between the Atlantic Division foes.
Both teams would not have to wait very long to reunite, with the Bruins welcoming Tampa Bay to TD Garden on Tuesday evening.
And with Kastelic still on the mend due to an upper-body injury, it was fellow scrapper Trent Frederic who answered the bell and doled out some punishment against Lilleberg.
Shortly after Boston built itself a four-goal lead in the second period, Frederic dropped the gloves with Lilleberg — who answered the expected challenge from the Bruins’ pugnacious winger.
While both skaters landed punches, Frederic won the bout thanks to several heavy hooks and uppercuts with his right hand.
“I mean — if you followed like the last time we played them, it kind of all stems from that,” Frederic said after Boston’s 6-2 win of the decision to fight Lilleberg. “Sticking up for a teammate.”
Frederic’s bout punctuated a physical response from the Bruins on Tuesday in what stands as their second win in a row following an extended six-game losing streak.
Frederic, who has now fought in two of his last three games after handedly beating Edmonton’s Corey Perry last week, had a strong game against Tampa. The 26-year-old forward came an assist shy of recording a Gordie Howe hat trick after scoring off a 2-on-1 sequence with Matt Poitras just 4:24 into the game.
While the Bruins will welcome the continued strong play from franchise pillars like Jeremy Swayman (.925 save percentage in his last eight games) and David Pastrnak (six points in his last two games), getting Frederic back to his punishing ways would be a welcome sight for Boston.
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