It wasn't the start the Sens were hoping for to their post All Star break schedule.
The Ottawa Senators let a 3-1 lead slip away to the division leading Bruins, eventually falling 4-3 tonight in Boston. The loss is the fourth straight for the Senators who now head home for five straight games at SBP to kick off the month of February.
While the Sens have themselves to blame for letting a lead get away, Ottawa was definitely on the short end of the stick again in terms of officiating. As the final buzzer sounded, a furious Paul MacLean unleashed a verbal tirade after going a full 60 minutes without the benefit of a power play.
Despite the loss, the Sens actually outplayed the Bruins for large stretches of this hockey game.
Zdeno Chara scored the game's opening goal and put the Sens in a 1-0 hole for the eighth straight hockey game. In the second period, Turris and Karlsson scored to give the Sens a 3-1 lead and it appeared as though the visiotrs were in complete control of the hockey game.
But there is a reason the Bruins are the defending Champs.
Milan Lucic scored late in the second period to give the Bruins life heading into the final frame. It was a goal that made all the difference for the Bruins as they found that extra gear in the third period.
Brad Marchand scored to even up the game early in the second and then Dennis Seidenberg scored a goal that will be all over the highlight reel for the rest of the season. His shot from centre ice skipped along the way and fooled Craig Anderson to give the Bruins a 4-3 lead they would not relinquish.
Ottawa's next game comes on Friday night when they host the New York Islanders. Remember we are hosting the first SensChirp Gathering at Local Heroes on Clyde that night. $60 gets you a ticket, food ($15 worth) and transportation to and from the game.
Email at senschirp@hotmail.com for details.
- The Sportsnet panel discussed the availability of Tuomo Ruutu during the second intermission and suggested the asking price might be a first round pick and a prospect. I would expect that the Senators are interested in a player like Ruutu but not at that asking price.
- The case for and against fighting has been discussed at length in the hockey world but a game like this shows there is still value in fighting. The fights by Chris Neil and Zenon Konopka were critical moments in that first period and were important for a Sens team that had to show the Bruins they would not be pushed around.
- If the NHL is going to continue to assign Dan O'Rourke to Sens games then I will continue to comment when the Sens don't get calls. Boston did not take a single penalty the entire night despite being one of the most penalized teams in the league. I saw three or four (including a play where Karlsson was hooked) that should have been called in the last 10 minutes.
