Boston Bruins: Boston Holds Defensive Clinic for Senators

The Boston Bruins hosted the Ottawa Senators for their final meeting of the season. Ottawa came into the game up 2-1 on the season series but lost the last time these teams met 3-1. Boston was looking to win their fourth straight heading into Tuesday night’s tilt.

Ottawa went up early with a wrap-around by Dylan Gambrell for his second of the season. David Krejci snapped home a rebound from up close to tie the game up with a power-play goal. five minutes later Jake DeBrusk glides through the offensive zone to put the Bruins up 2-1 on a sick feed from Brad Marchand.

The second period was the Linus Ullmark show. Ullmark made 21 saves in the second period and a few of them were highlight reel worthy. Boston Flexed their penalty kill prowess again and the B’s showed that just because Ottawa is younger doesn’t mean they’ll just blow by guys all night.

Boston went into the third period with the lead but Ottawa had the edge in shots outscoring the Bruins by 11. Connor Clifton drew a penalty early in the third and Boston was able to keep the Senators pinned in their zone but couldn’t capitalize to add to the lead. As a result Boston outshot the Senators in the third 9-3. Boston closed out the game on the penalty kill finishing the game 2-1 to keep their winning streak alive.

The Boston Bruins Defense is Elite

Boston really has shown their defensive ability lately. What stood out in this game is just the willingness to dive in an effort to break up a play in the defensive zone. The Bruins have outscored their opponents but they also defend them really well. Boston has the fewest goals against and have an expected goals against of 137.2 this season. Obviously that is what many Bruins fans would say mostly due to the best goaltending duo in the league, but if the defense wasn’t good Ullmark and Swayman’s jobs would be a lot tougher.

Bottom Six are Thriving

The bottom six in Boston has been crucial to the team’s recent success. Tyler Bertuzzi has stepped in and given the Bruins an offensive burst on the back end with Taylor Hall being on LTIR. Bertuzzi has 4 assists in 9 games with Boston. New additions Garnet Hathaway and Dimtry Orlov have shwon their ability to produce for Boston as well. Hathaway scored a goal in Sunday’s onsluaght of the Buffalo Sabres while Orlov had an offesnvie outburst at the beginning of his tenure in Boston and he also sent a 94 mph shot in Tuesday night’s game. Jakub Lauko has also shown his skill and has given coach Jim Montgomery something to think about come playoff time should Derek Forbort not be available to start the first round.

First Star of the Game

Tonight’s first star goes to Boston Bruins Goaltender Linus Ullmark for stopping 39 out of 40 shots and getting the win in exciting fashion. One save that stood out was on the powerplay where Ullmark had to lunge into a shot to keep it out of the net. Jake DeBrusk gets the honorable mention with a slick goal and a great backcheck on Claude Giroux to stop a breakaway.

Boston will go for their fifith straight on Thursday when they host the Montreal Canadiens.