Here are five thoughts from the first period with the Bruins and Senators tied up at 1-1 after the first 20 minutes of play at TD Garden.
1)Plenty of offensive energy that period for the Bruins with some very good saves by Ottawa goaltender Craig Anderson. Twelve shots on net, and many of them from Bruins players in exactly the spots they wanted to take them. Benoit Pouliot also rang a shot off the right post after an arms-and-legs move to dangle through a Senators defender.
2)Shawn Thornton with one of his best fights of the year pounding Chris Neil with a barrage of right-handed bombs, but it appears that it came at a price. Thornton with some serious bags of ice on his right hand before exiting midway through his five minutes into the penalty box with a trip straight to the dressing room. It looks like his right hand might be getting treated.
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SIGN UP HERE 3)Bruins power play looked very good in the first period. Both units playing with energy and quick passing that helped set up Zdeno Charas power play strike through a Milan Lucic screen. The score pulls Chara into a tie with Nathan Horton for the team lead with six power play strikes this year.
4)Three shots on net in 7:14 for Brad Marchand, who also drew the penalty that led to Charas power play goal by taking it hard to the net. A beauty of a saucer pass from Tyler Seguin set the whole thing up for Marchand.
5) Colin Greening is turning into one heck of a player for the Ottawa Senators. It was his second effort that allowed him to pop the rebound of his own shot past Tim Thomas. Greening and Daniel Alfredsson both lead the Senators with three shots on net apiece.
Here are five thoughts from the second period with the Bruins trailing the Senators by a 3-2 score after the first 40 minutes of play at TD Garden.
1)Five shots in the second for the Bruins as they were badly outplayed by Ottawa in all phases of the game. Its funny. The second period has actually been Bostons weakest period all season long and that was the case again tonight.
2)Despite their weak second period, Milan Lucic was able to bury a sizzling wrist shot from the slot with 46 seconds left in the period to make it a 3-2 game headed into the third period. Thats a gigantic goal for the Bruins after getting outplayed for most of the 20 minutes and it really shows some of Ottawas immaturity still shining through.
3)Despite the big bag of ice and repairs in the first period after his fight with Chris Neil, Shawn Thornton was out there taking regular shifts with his fourth line in the second. That NHL enforcer thing is a tough gig, man.
4)A big mistake by Zdeno Chara trying to step up into a play that led to a 2-on-1 and Erik Karlssons goal in the second period to give Ottawa their current lead. Of all the players on the ice for the Bruins, Chara and Tim Thomas have looked the weakest after their weekend All-Star appearances.
5)Soft goals from Tim Thomas in his first game back from the break. Strange to see given his normal domination of Ottawa, but perhaps Thomas was a little distracted prior to the game tonight wondering what kind of reception hed receive.
Here are five thoughts from the third period with the Bruins taking down the Senators by a 4-3 score after 60 minutes of intense Northeast Division play at TD Garden.
1)Dennis Seidenberg with the rare 90-foot goal when he fired a puck from the center ice face-off dot that skimmed off the ice and beat Craig Anderson for the game-winner. Third period win for Bruins shows their poiseexperience and make it clear Ottawa still has some growing up to do before theyre for real.
2)Six points and a pair of goals from the Bs defensemen crew tonight. The goal from Seidenberg was a big one.
3)Nine shots on goal for the Seguin, Marchand and Bergeron line, though they were on the ice for a pair of goals against as well. A very mixed bag night for them.
4)Four hits from Jared Cowen, who literally tossed Dennis Seidenberg off his skates during a battle in the corner. Hes another impressive young player for the Senators along with Colin Greening.
5)Two power play goals for the Bruins including 5-foot-8, 180-pound Brad Marchand beating out 6-foot-3, 220-pound Chris Phillips for a rebound in front of the net that ended up being the game-tying goal. Thats simple Little Ball of Hate desire winning out in a one-on-one battle.