photo credit: By Matt Stone/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald
By: Mandi Mahoney | Check me out on Twitter @phonymahoney
The Bruins closed out their six game homestand tonight with another last-minute, come-from-behind win, this time against the embattled Ottawa Senators. Their point streak is now at nineteen games, which is second longest in team history, behind only a 23-game streak during the 1940-41 season. This is the first time in their history that they have scored the game winner in the last minute of the third period in consecutive games.
Bruins’ Lineup:
Senators’ Lineup:
First Period:
Other than Lee Stempniak beginning his second tour with the Bruins, the first period was mainly uneventful, and would ultimately remain scoreless. The Bruins outshot the Senators 12-6, and each team went 0-for-2 on the man advantage. Play was pretty sloppy.
Second Period:
Both teams were better and less sloppy in the second period than they had been during the first. The Bruins hit the crossbar, and two posts. At 9:04, Magnus Paajarvi landed in the box after hooking Noel Acciari. On the ensuing power play, Torey Krug set Brad Marchand up for a one-timer, which beat Ottawa goaltender Craig Anderson at 10:11.
Almost immediately afterward, Patrice Bergeron missed the mark on a pass from behind his own goal line. Brady Tkachuk was able to fling the puck to an Jean-Gabriel Pageau in the slot, who beat Tuukka Rask top shelf with a wrist shot. The period would end tied at one goal apiece, with the Bruins outshooting the Sens 14-8.
Third Period:
The third period started off with some sloppy play by the Bruins, followed by Chris Tierney stealing the puck from Brad Marchand in Ottawa’s defensive zone, and beating Patrice Bergeron into the Bruins’ zone. McAvoy forced Tierney toward the left wing, and Tierney was able to get a shot off, which Rask saved. Torey Krug cleaned up the rebound and then made a horrendous turnover, coughing the puck up to Tierney directly to the right of Rask. Tierney was able to move it toward former Boston University Terrier Brady Tkachuk, who beat Rask glove side with a backhand shot at 2:46.
Later, Charlie McAvoy would gain the offensive zone and carry the puck behind the net, dishing it to Torey Krug at the left point. Krug then moved to the right point and let a shot go. Walpole’s own Chris Wagner was battling in front of the net and was able to redirect the shot to beat Anderson to tie the game at 2 goals across the board.
The next half period would be more of the same — sloppy, turnovers, with a back-and-forth rhythm — the Bruins weren’t looking great, but were good enough to get the job done. With 44 seconds left, Danton Heinen shot from just past the hash marks. David Krejci was able to tip the shot in over Anderson’s shoulder, and the Bruins took the 3-2 lead. Luckily, Boston was able to hold on tight for the next 44 seconds, and close out the homestand with another win.
Stars of the game:
1. David Krejci
2. Chris Wagner
3. Brady Tkachuk
Notes:
- Tuukka Rask has not lost in regulation in 76 days (Carolina On December 23).
- Defenseman John Moore played in his 500th NHL game tonight.
- Lee Stempniak was called up from Providence on an emergency basis on Saturday morning.
- Stempniak and Joakim Nordstrom skated with David Krejci, and it was not optimal.
- Peter Cehlarik only saw 10 minutes of ice time, which was second to least among Lee Stempniak, ahead of only Lee Stempniak. Cehlarik was better along the boards and drew a penalty in the first period.
- Zdeno Chara led all Bruins in time on ice, skating for 22:17.
- The Bruins outshot the Senators 31-19.
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