The Senators incredible run of bad luck against Boston continued on Tuesday night, as they fell to the Bruins for the fourth time this season and 13th time in the last 14 head to head match ups.
Colin Greening and Andre Benoit scored goals for Ottawa and Robin Lehner was his usual rock solid self but it wasn't good enough, as Anton Khudobin and the Boston Bruins held on for a 3-2 win. The Sens now sit six points behind Boston and slip into 6th in the Eastern Conference with loss.
As is so often the case when these two teams meet, the Senators were competitive, hung around in the hockey game but just couldn't find a way to beat a powerful Bruins hockey team. A fourth straight one goal loss to Claude Julien's team. Ottawa created plenty of chances but just gave up far too many. The Bruins ended the game with a 50-47 edge on the shot clock.
Exactly the start the Senators were looking for on the road.
Well the first part of it anyway. Colin Greening broke the ice just 2:48 in but the lead would not last long. David Krejci deflected a Zdeno Chara point shot and Tyler Seguin finished off a 2 on 1 to give the Bruins a surprising 2-1 lead less than five minutes in. The Bruins would carry that lead into the first intermission in what was an uncharacteristically sloppy first period, where the two teams combined for 40 shots on goal.
The wide open play continued into the second period as both Robin Lehner and Anton Khudobin made key stops to keep the game at 2-1 through forty minutes of play.
Early in the third period, a scramble in the Bruins zone saw the puck come back to Andre Benoit at the point. At first glimpse his shot appeared to hit the crossbar but video review showed the puck had hit the goal camera inside the net, tying the game at 2-2. It wouldn't last long though as with less than ten minutes left in the third, Nathan Horton buried a rebound out front to restore the Boston lead.
Ottawa continued to put pucks on the Boston net and even had a 6 on 4 power play late but could not get the equalizer. The Sens are off Wednesday and Thursday and return to the ice on Friday night when they visit the Buffalo Sabres. Craig Anderson may be ready to play in that one.
Tomorrow is NHL Trade Deadline Day and as always you can count on SensChirp to have all the latest related to moves by the Senators and from around the National Hockey League. If you've been here on deadline day before, you'll know I try to get a little more liberal with the rumours and speculation but at the same time clearly differentiate between rumour and fact.
Certainly not expecting a busy day but the Senators are willing to move picks and will be listening to offers on Bishop so there are some options for Bryan Murray. Even if the Sens are quiet, and they very well could be, it will be a fun day around these parts.
See you all tomorrow morning.
