Ottawa Senators Lose In A Heartbreaker, In Home Stand Debut, 2-1 To Bruins

Even before the game started, questions were being asked. Is David Krejci playing? If he is, will Ryan Spooner play in front of his family? Who will sit if he does play? All those questions were answered just moments before the game, as Krejci decided during the warm up that he could play. The Boston Bruins decided to bench Rich Peverly. Typical of Sens-Bruins game this was a tight game all the way to the 59 minute mark.

Mar 21, 2013; Ottawa, ON, CAN; Ottawa Senators goalie

(40) makes a save as Boston Bruins left wing

(63) follows the rebound in the first period at Scotiabank Place. Mandatory Credit: Marc DesRosiers-USA TODAY Sports

GAME RECAP

The opening period was as even as can be. Shots were almost the same, Ottawa slightly ahead on hits but one stat that Boston was ahead on was face-offs. The Bruins dominated the Sens in the face-off circle in the first period but later closed the cap to make it a little closer. Both clubs got scoring chances but the goaltenders, Robin Lehner and Anton Khudobin, were perfect and stopped all shots.

The following frame saw some action on the scoresheet. Once again the divisional rivals were almost equal in the shots department but Ottawa matched their one shot lead from the first period. Both teams held some time in each others defensive zones and both created scoring chances. Boston was awarded a power play mid way through the second period but could not convert on the leagues second best penalty killing team. (The first place team, was the one with the power play) Ottawa was first to open the scoring, with a goal from Kaspars Daugavins as Mika Zibanejad rushed into the Bruins zone with the puck, which led to the goal. Sergei Gonchar set the Senators record for consecutive games with a point at 9 games. Record was previously help by Erik Karlsson and former Senator, current Florida Panther Filip Kuba. Near the end of the period Daniel Paille shot at the Senators goaltender and Lehner couldn’t get a hold of the puck as it squeaked by him for a tie game.

In the last period , we seen some more tight play from both teams. In a strange turn of events, we seen Milan Lucic explode on the Senators and it started to kind of get rough. It looked as though the Sens were getting aheir first power play of the game, when we seen Lucic go towards the penalty box but it was in fact Kaspars Daugavins who got the only penalty and the Bruins were once again getting another power play. Ottawa never got a chance with the man advantage all game. After it looked like we would be heading into extra time, it was Denis Seidenberg that broke the hearts of all Sens fans with a shot that went through a bunch of players, including Robin Lehner for the game winner.

OBSERVATIONS

• Patrick Wiercioch continued his strong play. He he had a solid first period but was not as noticeable in the second and third period.
• As mentioned above Sergei Gonchar stretched his point streak to 9 games. Nice to see Gonchar step up his game and have such an impact after Karlsson’s injury. Have to wonder if he can keep this up. He might have a chance to keep it up depending on what is said about why he left tonight’s game.
• Robin Lehner once again has a strong game, finishing with 27 saves. He keeps posting strong numbers and hasn’t let up on his strong play from the first drop of the puck.
• As it seems we report on a game by game basis, there is yet another injury to report. This time it was Sergei Gonchar going to the dressing room and not coming back. Lets hope this was a precautionary reason, other wise losing Gonchar for any period of time will most definitly affect this team.

SENSHOT PLAYER OF THE GAME

This was a goaltending show. This has to go to both goaltenders. Both Lehner and Khudobin played very well and kept both their clubs in the game at all time. the game winning goal Lehner allowed was not is fault and considering his strong play you have to imagine he gets the start on Saturday. Both goalkeepers finished with 27 saves.

UP NEXT

The Ottawa Senators will host the Tampa Bay Lightning on another Saturday afternoon game. This will be the second game of the Sens 5 game home stand, their longest of the season. They are already in town waiting for this match-up.