Bruins Start Flat Again, Fall 5-2 To Senators For Third Straight Loss

Ottawa Senators goalie Anders Nilsson made 38 saves and winger Anthony Duclair had two goals and an assist, including what proved to be the game-winner 15:44 into the first period, to pace the Senators to a 5-2 win over the Boston Bruins Monday night in Ottawa. The win was their first in regulation over the Bruins since the 2016-17 season.

The slow starts to a game are now becoming slow starts to a period for the Bruins. The Bruins allowed a goal 1:35 into the first period and 1:21 into the second period and once again played catch-up hockey. The loss was the Bruins’ third straight and second straight in regulation as they began a four-game road trip that has them playing the Washington Capitals, Tampa Bay Lightning and Florida Panthers in the next three games.

In his first game back, Patrice Bergeron scored his ninth goal of the season for the Bruins and Jake DeBrusk got his seventh tally. David Pastrnak and Brad Marchand each had two helpers. Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask struggled, stopping 23 of 26 Senators shots.

Senators forward Chris Tierney had a goal and two assists and Artem Anisimov and Jean-Gabriel Pageau each scored for the Sens in the win. Vladislav Namestnikov finished the game with two helpers.

Anisimov’s goal at 1:35 of the first period finished off what was a collective brain cramp by the Bruins as they had a lackadaisical line change. As the Red Sea parted in the neutral zone, Thomas Chabot dished the puck around the back of the Ottawa net and Dylan DeMelo rifled it down the ice and through the middle for Anisimov who beat Rask with a beautiful backhander.

Artem Anisimov's backhand is absolutely lethal. pic.twitter.com/3py1KSCFPc

— NHL (@NHL) December 10, 2019

The Senators doubled up their lead when Chris Tierney found Duclair in the slot and the Ottawa winger sniped it top shelf past Rask for a 2-0 Sens lead at 15:44.

Anthony Duclair with the ELITE wrist shot (could also be considered a snap shot, up for debate) in tight.#Sens up 2-0 pic.twitter.com/15LFqerLw3

— Hailey Salvian (@hailey_salvian) December 10, 2019

That goal appeared to wake the Bruins up though and 2:04 later the Bruins were able to cut the lead in half as their reunited top line worked their magic. Marchand took the puck coming out of the Bruins zone and stickhandled his way through mid-ice finding Pastrnak with a backhand pass, who then relayed it to Bergeron for the one-timer past Nilsson at 17:48 of the opening frame.

The sequence of Patrice Bergeron’s goal is vintage perfection line. Brad Marchand picks up a loose puck in the neutral zone, makes a move to send Pastrnak in on a 2-on-1. Finds Bergy all alone back door. Beautiful. pic.twitter.com/4cXdy80Jf9

— Matt Castle (@Matt_Castle22) December 10, 2019

The Tierney goal at 1:21 of the second period was the result of just a complete lapse of judgment by Rask, who came out to play it and coughed it up to Duclair, who tipped it to Namestnikov, who then found Tierney in front for the layup goal and a 3-1 lead for the Senators.

That's Chris Tierney's first goal in 22 games (since Oct. 23)

His smile here kind of says it all. #Sens up 3-1 pic.twitter.com/l15q614Q9p

— Hailey Salvian (@hailey_salvian) December 10, 2019

On their final powerplay of the game, with Rask pulled, Senators defenseman Nikita Zaitsev blocked his seventh shot of the game and Pageau broke free for the empty-netter to pad the lead to 4-1. Namestnikov and Hainsey had the helpers.

DeBrusk would score his seventh goal of the season just as that powerplay was winding down but it was too little, too late. Pastrnak and Marchand got their second assists of the game.

Duclair added salt to the wound with another empty-netter and his second lamplighter of the game with just one second left in regulation. DeMelo and Tierney each got their second assists of the game.

The Bruins had four powerplays after the Tierney goal but could only convert on one and are now 2-for-20 in their last five games. Nilsson came up with nine saves through the first three powerplays but overall and was a difference-maker making 32 saves in the final two periods.