The Senators came back from a 2-0 deficit, but Brad Marchand's overtime goal gave Boston a 3-2 victory.
The Ottawa Senators' improved play continues but it wasn't quite enough on Thursday night. They were unable to take down the top-ranked Boston Bruins, falling 3-2 in overtime at the Canadian Tire Centre (18,722). After the Sens had rallied from a 2-0 deficit, Brad Marchand scored the game-winning goal in overtime. Vladimir Tarasenko's precision wrist shot with just over three minutes to play had tied the game for the Senators.
With the Bruins playing last night and having to kill off six power plays to Ottawa's one, the top team in the Eastern Conference was probably never more ripe for the picking. But the Sens couldn't close the deal.
The Senators started the game strongly, giving up just three shots in the first period. Their hard work created several turnovers and drew two penalties. It also created some good scoring chances, some of which the Senators squandered by getting too clever instead of shooting the puck.
But special teams were the difference in the opening period. Ottawa had four minutes of power play time and barely got over Boston’s blue line. Meanwhile, the Bruins needed just three seconds to score on their only power play of the night. With 1:24 left in the first, David Pastrnak scored from the point on the Bruins’ third shot of the night. Parker Kelly appeared to provide a perfect screen on his goalie, Joonas Korpisalo.
It was more of the same in the second period. The Senators again got two more power play chances, but again, it was Boston that scored. One-on-one against Thomas Chabot, Trent Frederic took advantage of Chabot’s super soft gap from Chabot and ripped a shot, unchallenged, off the goal post and in.
With 28 seconds left in the period, Ottawa finally broke through on its fifth power play, ending an 0 for 18 drought. Chabot stepped up and redeemed himself, scoring off an amazing, no-look pass from Drake Batherson.
In a tight third period, it looked like the Senators had tied the game when Josh Norris crammed home a loose puck near the crease. But the officials ruled that Mathieu Joseph had gotten the puck to Norris by way of a hand pass, and replays backed that up.
Shane Pinto had two fantastic chances in the third as well, but couldn't bury either of them.
Finally, with just over three minutes left in the game, the power play showed up again, as Tarasenko tied it with a perfect shot, top shelf, on Jeremy Swayman's short side.
As most of them are, the 3-on-3 overtime was back and forth. Tim Stutzle made a beautiful charge to the net and Swayman kicked the puck right out to Brady Tkachuk. Tkachuk had a wide open net to shoot at, but the puck bounced over his stick.
Stutzle and Tkachuk were then hopelessly caught down near the goal line as Boston sprinted up ice on a 2 on 1. Brad Marchand took a pass from Charlie Coyle and beat Korpisalo on the glove side to end the game.
The Senators outshot the Bruins 37-23 on the night and they do manage to come away with their second overtime loss point of the season. As they have for the past two weeks, they continue to play a more stable looking brand of hockey.
"We're seeing more poise and more composure," head coach Jacques Martin said after the game.
Chabot liked the fact the team hung in there and came back.
"Early on, the power play was frustrating for all of us," Chabot said. "But you know what? We stuck to it. And we ended up tying the game with two power play goals."
Tarasenko got one of them, tying the game with a perfect shot. He says the Sens' morale has improved a lot as the club continues to play better.
"It's way more fun coming to the rink the next day after a win," Tarasenko said. "Or even today, you know when you leave the rink that you gave them a battle. You don't lose just because you gave the game away."
Ottawa is back in action on Saturday night, hosting another elite Eastern team – the New York Rangers.
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