The Ottawa Senators entered their home opener Tuesday night winless after two road losses to Buffalo and Toronto. The Boston Bruins arrived in Ottawa at 3-0. It was the Senators who would prevail 7-5 in a wild affair in Ottawa.
The young, hungrier Senators came out flying and took a 2-0 lead in the first 3:09 of the first period. Drake Batherson made it 3-0 later in the first, and the Bruins were on their heels.
But the Bruins got a goal from captain Patrice Bergeron, his third of the season, with three minutes to go in the first period to cut the deficit to 3-1. The Bruins would cash in on a power play 28 seconds into the second period on a goal by David Krejci and then tie the game 1:02 later on AJ Greer’s third of the season.
Shane Pinto, Tim Stutzle, and Mark Kastelic each scored in four and a half minutes later in the second to give the Senators another three-goal lead. But the Bruins would not let up. Nick Foligno scored on a rebound to make it 6-4, and then David Pastrnak scored his third of the year with 15 seconds remaining to make it 6-5 at the end of the second period.
The Senators would expand the lead to 7-5 on a great individual effort by Artyom Zub as he banged in his own rebound to beat Linus Ullmark, who replaced starting netminder Jeremy Swayman who was pulled to start the third period.
3 Takeaways
The Bruins are starting to show the effects of missing defensemen Charlie McAvoy, Matt Grzelcyk, and Brandon Carlo. With the new style of play implemented by new head coach Jim Montgomery where the defense jumps into the play more often, the Bruins have had defensive breakdowns and have been susceptible to the back door seam pass too often. These are issues that need to be cleaned up.
The Senators have a young, dynamic forward group. Brady Tkachuk (23 years old) and Tim Stutzle (20 years old) each had a goal and two assists for Ottawa. Alex DeBrincat (24), Josh Norris (23), and Drake Batherson (24) are also highly-skilled wingers who will make the Sens a difficult matchup most nights. The question will be if the Senators can get solid defensive play and goaltending to make them a playoff contender.
This might be the deepest forward group the Bruins have had since their 2011 Stanley Cup winning team. Boston has already had goals from 10 different forwards this season. Montgomery has been able to roll four lines who have contributed offensively, and their top point-getter from last season, Brad Marchand, will not return for another month or so.
Boston will host Anaheim on Thursday night, while the Senators will host the Capitals.
