Tim Stutzle's two late third period goals help Senators earn 5-3 win vs Bruins

After sweeping their back-to-back this past weekend against the Philadelphia Flyers and Utah Mammoth, the Ottawa Senators took a tough 3-2 overtime loss in their last game against the Dallas Stars on Tuesday night at home. Then, it was time for a showdown against the Boston Bruins.

Facing a team three times in just over a month to start the season doesn't happen often. The Senators and Bruins each won one game against each other earlier this season. In the rubber match, the Senators earned a crucial win.

The Senators defeated the Bruins 5-3 at Canadian Tire Centre. With the win, the Senators improved to 9-5-4 overall on the season and snapped the Bruins' seven-game winning streak.

Leevi Merilainen would get his fourth start of the season, and his second over the last three games. Merilainen made 26 saves to lift the Senators to a 7-2 win against the Bruins back on Oct. 27 in the first meeting of this season. Ex-Senator Joonas Korpisalo got the start for the Bruins.

Like Tuesday against the Stars, the Senators found themselves in the same situation with being up 2-0 heading into the first intermission. Claude Giroux scored a powerplay goal 1:28 into the game, then Dylan Cozens scored in the final minute of the first period.

Another repeat happened from Tuesday's game when the Senators allowed one goal in the second period. This time, it was Morgan Geekie who scored the only goal of the period to make it a 2-1 game heading into the second intermission. After the second period, the Senators were dealt a loss in the lineup when Nick Jensen wouldn't return to the game.

Both the Senators and Bruins traded goals early in the third period. After Shane Pinto scored 1:06 into the period, David Pastrnak scored a powerplay goal less than three minutes later to make it a one-goal game. Then, 1:26 after Pastrnak's goal, ex-Senator Mark Kastelic tied the game at three.

When it appeared the Senators' offense was without momentum, the team capitalized on a Bruins turnover. With 5:43 remaining in regulation, Tim Stutzle scored to give the Senators a 4-3 lead off a beautiful pass from Drake Batherson. With under 20 seconds remaining, Stutzle added an empty-net goal to ice the game.

With his two goals, Stutzle now has 10 goals on the season, and he finished the game with three points; Cozens and Giroux each finished with a two-point game; Merilainen finished with 18 saves to earn his third consecutive win.

The Senators will return to action on Saturday night when they conclude their four-game home stand by hosting the Los Angeles Kings. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET. Last season, the Senators and Kings each earned one win against each other in the season series. In the one meeting in Ottawa, the Senators won a thrilling 8-7 game in overtime.