Senators’ win streak ends in Boston
They took the lead, gave it up, and fought back to make it a game. But in the end there wasn’t enough magic to get the Ottawa Senators over the top and out of Boston with a win.
BOSTON — They took the lead, gave it up, and fought back to make it a game.
But in the end there wasn’t enough magic to get the Ottawa Senators over the top and out of Boston with a win.
The Bruins scored two goals within 37 seconds of each other in the third period to break a 3-3 tie and get just their fourth win of the season, 5-3.
The loss ended Ottawa’s six-game winning streak.
Jared Cowen had just tied the game 1:37 before the Boston outburst with his first NHL goal. But Craig Anderson, who kept his team in the game until that point, unluckily coughed up goals to Johnny Boychuk and Daniel Paille.
Milan Lucic, Patrice Bergeron, and Chris Kelly, who also had an assist, scored Boston’s other goals.
For the Senators, Nick Foligno had a goal and two assists, a career high for points in a game, while Stephane Da Costa had a goal and an assist.
“I think the Stanley Cup champions came to play,” said coach Paul MacLean.
“Obviously with all the reports of their demise, they responded real well. I didn’t think they really gave us much of an opportunity to play.”
Anderson faced 41 shots while Tim Thomas faced 26.
Ordinarily, Cowen would have been happy with his first NHL goal but he wasn’t on this night.
“It was nice to get my first goal, but hopefully the next time I get a goal it will matter more,” he said.
Anderson kept his team in the game until Boston’s fourth and fifth goals.
On Boychuk’s he was screened, on Paille’s he only got a piece.
“You want to limit the odd-man rushes in this game,” said Anderson.
“That’s what’s going to kill you. When you start giving up three-on-twos, two-on-ones, and breakaways, you can make a few saves, but those are good players you’re playing against, and eventually they’re going to score.”
In a wild first period of lucky bounces, the Senators emerged with a 2-1 lead.
Foligno got his third of the season when the puck went up and off Adam McQuaid, just before the net was dislodged.
The play was reviewed but the NHL’s Situation Room confirmed that the net was completely on its mooring when the puck crossed the goal line.
The Bruins tied the game during a power play two minutes later when the puck fell to Lucic at the right post.
Erik Karlsson was there, and he tried, but he was out-manned by the 6-4, 220-pound Lucic. No shame there. Most NHL defenceman would have been out-manned.
Lucic lifted a backhander over Anderson.
However, the Bruins didn’t even get a chance to get an emotional lift off this goal. Just 16 seconds later, Da Costa got his third of the season that started with another lucky bounce, this time off Joe Corvo’s back.
The puck fell to Foligno and he tapped a pass to Da Costa, who buried it.
The second period was not one that will find its way onto Ottawa highlight films.
The Bruins not only outshot the Senators 15-7, they got goals from Bergeron and and Kelly to take a 3-2 lead.
Bergeron took a neat pass from Tyler Seguin and beat Anderson from the slot, while Kelly beat Anderson with a slap shot from the high slot.
* * * * * * * * * *
WHY SENS LOST: They lost control of the game in the second period, got it back in the third, but in the end didn’t get the saves they needed from Anderson.
DUD: After a couple of good games, David Rundblad wasn’t very good and finished minus-2.
STUD: Nick Foligno. Even in a losing effort, Nick Foligno was a force with a goal and two assists, a career high for points in a game.
PENALTY KILLING TROUBLE: With Boston’s first-period power-play goal, the Senators have now allowed at least one power-play in five of their last six games. They came into the game 29th at penalty killing.
I find it hard to believe that you’re pinning the loss on Anderson. The Senators were outworked all night, and had trouble making a pass. The puck was in Ottawa’s end 70% of the time.
The only reason why the Sens even had a chance, was they got a couple of lucky goals and because Anderson kept them in it and gave them a chance.
i totally agree. anderson made 40 saves versus 25 for tim thomas. clearly the sens didnt get enough chances to make things happen for them offensively. stud should have been given to anderson, hes the reason it was only 5-3.
This was a measuring stick game and, hopefully, burst a few bubbles that may have been developing on a young team. They say no team is as good as it seems while on a winning streak or as bad as it looks on a losing one – in Ottawa’s case Boston is the first top quality opponent they’ve faced in a while and it shows that the same issues that plagued them in the first few games are still there when the opposition gets stiffer, particularly an inability to get the puck out of the zone or complete passes when a quality team starts clogging up the neutral zone. There are no shortcuts and this team will be as good as it looked at times over the streak but it’s gonna take time.
Anderson was horrible, this loss is all him. When will they get a decent goalie?!?
really? really?
Yes, Yes.
No…
John
Boston is one of the worst teams in the east right now toronto has a far better record then boston and is playing alot better.
But Boston is the better team. The first 10 games does not a season make.
Panzer – Ottawa gives up 41 shots on goal and 10 power plays, spends most of the game in its own end, and can’t string two passes together all night – and it’s Anderson’s fault they lost?
Jason Spezza is the DUD on this one and let’s not be afraid to say it. On the ice for two even-strength goals against and playing scared all game, 0 G 0 A -2 and only 20 seconds of short-handed ice time.
If this guy is going to be our leader he needs to step his game up against the toughest teams in the league. Last year he was invisible in a few Bruins games as well.
Cannot blame this one on Anderson. No way. If they had won, it would have been mostly because of Anderson and Foligno.
As for Spezza, it was clear the Bruins looked at video of the past games. They were on his case all the time, and did not give him any room. Good work on their part. Spezza has to recognize that and keep the puck out of the Sens’ end and not try to razzle dazzle. Some times there were three players on Spezza. Michalek and Greening rely on Spezza, but tonight was a night for them to help Spezza out and it didn’t happen.
The team did not have a lot of energy. It was their fifth game in seven nights. The Bruins are excellent at slowing down teams, so of course that’s part of it too.
Overall, I rate it a needed learning experience. They could have won it. That’s what was disappointing on the two goals on Anderson in the third. If he had been able to stop them, I think the Sens could have stole one they did not deserve to win.
Jayme — if you look back to the Leafs – Boston game in October — you will find Leafs lost 6 – 2.
Boston got off to a bad start this season.. BUT they are still the Cup champs and an elite team.
It just proved that these young Sens can’t win against the Elite teams.
The defense did the damage last night. Remember there are 2 rookies of the six D — so it will take time for them to develop.
Calling Rundblad a DUD… He’s played about 10 NHL games coming from the SEL — a completely different league and style of game. Give me a break.
Don’t forget, we were also playing without our captain, arguably our #1 or 2 player on this team. That fact alone made things easier on Boston. They could focus their attention on Spezza and not worry too much about other playmakers.
These are the kinds of teams and games that we miss Fischer. He would wheel around giving Boston as good as he got, while still making plays at high speed. Foligno has a long way to go to fill those shoes. Yeah he made a dent on the score sheet, good for him, but was anyone nervous when he went into the corners with them? Hardly. Don’t even get me started on our other pint sized centre men. We need 4 lines to compete every night, and if we can’t roll like that, teams are going to tee off on that 1st line every game.
Sandy
No one expected them to beat elite teams this year even some did not think they would win 10 games all year.
Yeright
Some teams will tee off on the top line but not all.
Alfie was a decent player in his younger years, but hasn’t been able to elevate his game in the last few years. Not sure if he could still be considered an “elite” player when he seems to get injured so often and doesn’t put up the numbers.
The Sens PK% in this game was also 86.7, which would have put them in 8th in the league this year. So it’s more too many penalties than bad penalty killing this game.