Bruins Edge Sens in Low Scoring Shootout: Boston 4; Ottawa 3 (SO)

The Senators put forth one of their better effort, probably deserving a better fate, but were edged out by the Boston Bruins in the shootout. The team looked really in sync in the final 40 minutes of this one, battling back from a 2-0 deficit with three unanswered goals. An unfortunate, accidental, but deserved high sticking foul was called on Antoine Vermette, allowing the juggernaut Bruins to tie the game on the power-play. The Sens pressed hard for the rest of the third and much of overtime despite having to kill off another penalty in the supplemental period, but the Bruins got strong goaltending from Tim Thomas, allowing them to shut the door on the Sens' attack and play the probabilities against the Sens' woeful shootout record.

I actually thought Thomas looked very Hasek-like on this night, particularly when stopping Mike Fisher’s breakaway in overtime The Sens had some of the better chances in the shootout, but Thomas was up to the task, stopping a Dany Heatley snap shot that had goal written all over it. The Sens’ shooters have always had a hard time against him, so it was encouraging to see them pot three against their foe, even if the end result was not what they had hope for.

Daniel Alfredsson said before the game that Bruins are not a team to relinquish a lead, thus it was crucial to for Ottawa to get the first goal. While the senators surrendered the first two scores of the game, Alfredsson certainly did his part to remedy the situation. Alfredsson tied the game with a point blank slapper that went top corner. Alfredsson played like a man possessed, registering 7 shots on goal, with his teammates counting 15 between them.

I was vaguely disappointed when Nick Foligno scored a goal, as I had typed some notes on his strong play tonight that I found very observant and pithy. By scoring, he made my noticing the little things he did well less subtle and intelligent. Nevertheless, I thought Foligno was great, even aside from the second period marker. He appeared to benefit from Clouston’s implementation of a two-forechecker system, and used his speed, strong skating, and puck protection skills to make smart plays on the cycle. Foligno’s goal was an objet d‘art, as he beat three bruins to slide the puck past Tim Thomas with outstretched arms. I’m pleased with Clouston’s decision to continue playing him on the second line.

The loss has to sting for this group, but this was another strong effort under the new task master. Given their position in the standings, this team should be assessed in the same manner one would judge a poker player: The result takes a backseat to the process that leads to it. If the process stays sound, the results will come over the long run. The team gets a chance to see if the odds even out against Buffalo on Saturday night.

Notes:

1) Bryan Murray held court with James Duthie during the second intermission. Here are some of the highlights from that interview for those who may have missed it.

• When asked about how the senators went from first in goals scored in 2007-08 to last this season, Murray answered that he was dumbfounded at how this happened. He doesn’t believe the team takes enough shots, and used tonight’s effort as an example


• Murray thought the team is playing better under Clouston, and thought we may see more success against a “the right opponents.”


• He alleged whether he would be a seller at the dealine is contingent on what is offered for the players he is interested in moving, and that not going to clean house completely.


• Also said that he had been fielding calls about the Big 3, but insinuated that he was not planning on moving any of them before the deadline barring a gargantuan offer.

2) One trend that has stood out every time the Bruins come to town is the ability of the fans in Ottawa to single out a player every time he touches the puck. It was fine when it was just Bryan Berard, Alexei Yashin, and players of that ilk, but it’s gone too far. Zdeno Chara was once again booed mercilessly tonight. I won’t pretend to have inside knowledge on the process that led to Chara’s departure. Some say Chara chose to leave because he wanted to be the top dog on a team and that was not going to happen in Ottawa. Others have relayed that Muckler flat out chose Wade Redden over soaring Slovak. Regardless of how it went down, booing Chara is asinine.

To loosely borrow the words of the fiery Santino Coleone, the NHL is a business and the fans in Ottawa are taking it very, very personal. The Big Z gave nothing but his best to this organization. He played hurt in the playoffs, was active in the community, has always been a class act when asked about his time in Ottawa, and will go down as one of the best defencemen to play in this city. Bitter boo birds: If you were offered a job that included a more sought after role and more cash by a different employer when your contract ended, you would no doubt take it. That’s all the man did, and he was well within his rights in doing so. Don’t hate the player, hate the game.