Boston: 19-6-3 Ottawa: 16-8-6
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| Danny Paille celebrates after notching a goal in the B's March 11 victory over OTT. (Photo courtesy of Getty Images) |
The Boston Bruins will be back at it Thursday night in
Ottawa. The two sides will be hooking up for the third time this season. Boston
beat the Sens twice, once in OT and then in a shootout. The Bruins hope to put
an end to their current two game losing streak, while Ottawa will be looking to
close the three point deficit that currently separates them in the Northeast
standings.
Ottawa will be in search of its fourth straight victory and
Scotiabank Place will undoubtedly be rocking. With the Bruins within reach,
Senators coach Paul MacLean will have his team well prepared. The Senators
sense weakness in Boston’s game and will look to exploit it at every chance.
This matchup will showcase the NHL’s top two defensive teams.
The Bruins and Sens are ranked one and two respectively in penalty killing.
Each side has world-class goaltending, both ranked in the top three league
wide. Expect Tuukka Rask to oppose Robin Lehner in this one.
Scoring the puck has been a bit of a problematic area for
the Bruins in recent games. The Senators have developed a reputation of being a
liberal bunch and that likely will not change come tomorrow night.
Ottawa has buried thirteen goals over the course of its last
three games. This stat alone will force Boston to step up its offensive game.
Like they frequently do, the Bruins will look for Patrice Bergeron to provide a
spark. He has dominated the Sens over the years and a classic performance from
him is something the B’s are in dire need of.
Third period play has been the Achilles heel of the Bruins
in recent weeks. Boston has blown three notable games in collapsing fashion.
This trend needs to be debunked, especially because of the importance this
showdown carries. Ottawa is fresh off a gigantic comeback in which a four goal
third period propelled them past the Isles. It goes with out saying, that Bruins
must have their heads in the game or the Sens could swiftly drop them.
Both Boston and Ottawa are injury plagued. Ottawa has been
worse off than Boston, remarkably staying well above water for nearly the
entire season. What Paul MacLean has been able to accomplish with his team is
nothing short of spectacular. The Bruins on the other hand are just acquainting
themselves with handling substantial injury. If the Sens can do it, so can
Boston. It is a matter of embracing the situation, not panicking.
The Sens are not a physically imposing defensive team,
though they are highly skilled. The Bruins would be wise if they were to get
back to a north/south skating game. Getting pucks and bodies to the front of
the cage is an essential component of Boston’s attack. Guys like Milan lucic,
Nathan Horton, and yes, even Jordan Caron need to make sure it happens.
Boston rarely suffers three straight defeats. In fact, the B’s
have not lost more than two in a row all season. They must generate quality
scoring chances and fight any fatigue that may creep in tooth and nail. The
Bruins need to locate the killer instinct that has been absent for much of this
season. The two points at stake in this one are immeasurable.
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