Bruins Return from Break, Fall to Senators in Shootout

OTTAWA -Pavel Zacha scored late in the third period to force extra time, but the Bruins fell to the Ottawa Senators, 3-2, in a shootout on Tuesday night at Canadian Tire Centre in their return from the three-day holiday break.
"Our goal was to get better every period. I thought our first was OK, our second wasn't as good - credit to Ottawa there - but I thought the third we really got to our game," said coach Jim Montgomery, whose club dropped to 27-4-3 on the season and has now lost both of its game in Ottawa.

Strong Finish Earns A Point

After a scoreless first period, the Senators struck first in the second on Tim Stutzle's power-play tally at 8:11 of the period. Jake DeBrusk didnt wait long before he tied it 1-1 just 2:22 later when he followed his own rebound and whacked one home following a fortunate bounce off the end wall.
Ottawa responded quickly, however, as Alex DeBrincat struck with 6:23 left in the second to put the Senators up, 2-1, entering the third. The Bruins stormed back in the third, putting forth a dominant effort, while outshooting the Senators, 27-5, over the final 20 minutes. Despite a number of golden opportunities, Ottawa goalie Cam Talbot (49 saves) stymied the Black & Gold, before Pavel Zacha finally broke through and found the back of the net with just over three minutes left in the third to force overtime.
"It felt good to put it in, I think I had a lot of chances the last couple of games so it felt good to put it in," said Zacha, whose tally was his fourth goal of the season and his 200th career point.
After a back-and-forth overtime period, which saw both teams generate a bevy of Grade-A chances, DeBrincat's goal to start off the shootout proved to be the only tally and clinched the victory for Ottawa.

Between the Pipes

It was a battle of the goaltenders as both seemingly made breakaway save after breakaway save and gave their best show in overtime. Talbot made 49 saves, 26 of which came in the third period, including eight during an impressive Boston power play late in the final frame. He made another four stops in OT before turning away all three of Boston's shootout attempts.
Jeremy Swayman was just as impressive at the other end during overtime, making six of his 31 saves during the extra session.
"Shot repetition, that's what I wanted," said Swayman, who allowed one of the two Ottawa goals on the power-play. "I want to be challenged. I've had my fair share of adversity so far and I've tried to use that to my advantage and take the positives from every game."
The B's close out the back-to-back on Wednesday night in New Jersey vs. the Devils at 7:30 on TNT and 98.5 The Sports Hub