BRUINS 5, LIGHTNING 2: Benoit Pouliot scored the go-ahead goal on a rebound with 8:26 left and defenseman Zdeno Chara recorded three assists as host Boston strengthened its grip on the Northeast Division lead.

Brad Marchand and Rich Peverley added goals later as the Bruins won for the fifth time in six games and improved to 30-0-0 when leading after two periods.

Boston is five points ahead of the Ottawa Senators in the Northeast.

Steven Stamkos scored his second goal of the game and league-leading 55th to tie it 2-2 for the Lightning, hammering a one-timer inside the left post on the power play 5:46 into the third.

Boston goalie Tim Thomas had only 16 saves, but two of those came on a Lightning power play with the game tied 2-2 and less than 10 minutes remaining.

The Bruins outshot Tampa Bay 38-18 overall, but fell behind on Stamkos’ goal 5:03 into the opening period.

Shawn Thornton flipped in a rebound after Chara went to the net 10:54 into the first to tie it. Defenseman Dennis Seidenberg gave Boston a lead going into the third by knocking in the rebound of a Chara shot at 15:05 of the second.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Martin St. Louis had two assists for Tampa Bay, giving him 70 points for the eighth time in nine seasons. … Boston’s Brian Rolston extended his point streak to seven games with an assist. … The teams split four games this season, each winning a pair at home. ... Tampa Bay had its three-game winning streak snapped.