Boston is coming off two of their more passionate games despite losing two of their top players to start the week, in Marc Savard and Milan Lucic. Boston will try and continue that intense passion and bring it into their first divisional tilt of the season at Scotia Bank Place.
Ottawa will want the same type of game and will be looking to bring some structure back to their game after a see-saw affair in a 6-5 overtime loss to the Predators on Thursday night.
When And Where
Saturday, Oct. 24, 7 p.m. ET (NESN)Scotia Bank Place, Kanata, Ont.
Records
Bruins (4-4-1) 9 points. Third place Northeast Division, ninth in the Eastern ConferenceSenators (5-2-1), 11 points. Tied for first Northeast Division, fifth in the Eastern Conference
Head to Head
This is the first of six meetings between the two Northeast Division rivals. The Senators and bruins will meet again November 28 in Boston, December 21 and January 5 at Ottawa, then January 18 and 23 in Boston.The Bruins were 5-1-0 against the Senators last season.
Boston leads the lifetime series 51-28-8-7.
Skinny
This is the first Northeast Division game of the season for the Bruins and only one in October before they engage in four division tilts in November.The Bruins have gained points in two consecutive games for the first time this season and have yet to win or lose consecutive games.
With a 4-4-1 record and nine points this season, the Bruins are just two points off of their 2008-09 pace when they had 11 points thanks to a 4-2-3 record through their first nine games.
After Saturday’s game, the Bruins will head into their lightest week for a month thanks to a four-day break before Thursday’s game at the TD Garden against New Jersey and an off-day next Friday. They won’t face another week like this until they have the same schedule from Dec. 5-11.
The Senators added some new faces and got rid of a familiar one since they last played the Bruins. The most notable changes were the trade of Dany Heatley that netted the Sens Milan Michalek and Jonathan Cheechoo in return while signing longtime Canadiens forward Alex Kovalev. Goaltender Pascal Leclaire is also somewhat new to the Bruins as he was injured since coming to the Senators at the trade deadline last spring.
Cheechoo and Defenseman Alexandre Picard fell into coach Cory Clouston‘s doghouse Thursday and were benched in the third period. Cheechoo had been playing on the first line with center Jason Spezza and winger Milan Michalek.
Projected Lineups
BruinsForwards
Marco Sturm–David Krejci–Mark Recchi
Brad Marchand–Patrice Bergeron–Michael Ryder
Daniel Paille–Vladimir Sobotka–Blake Wheeler
Shawn Thornton–Steve Begin–Byron Bitz
Defensemen
Zdeno Chara–Derek Morris
Andrew Ference–Dennis Wideman
Mark Stuart–Matt Hunwick
Goaltenders
Tim Thomas
Tuukka Rask
Senators
Forwards
Alex Kovalev, Mike Fisher–Daniel Alfredsson.
Milan Michalek–Jason Spezza–Jonathan Cheechoo.
Nick Foligno–Ryan Shannon–Chris Neil.
Jarkko Ruutu–Chris Kelly–Ryan Shannon.
Defensemen
Chris Phillips-Anton Volchenkov
Chris Campoli-Erik Karlsson
Alexandre Picard-Matt Carkner
Goaltenders
Brian Elliott
Pascal Leclaire
Goaltender Matchup
BruinsTim Thomas is 3-3-0 with a 3.00 GAA and .902 save percentage. Thomas has one shutout this season.
Tuukka Rask is 1-1-1 with a 3.17 GAA and .899 save percentage
Senators
Pascal Leclaire is 4-2-1 with a 2.71 GAA and .903 save percentage
Brian Elliot is 1-0-0 with a 2.00 GAA and .929 save percentage
Stat Sheet
BruinsInjured center Marc Savard (four goals; three assists), leads the Bruins with seven points.
Center Steve Begin got his second goal in as many games Thursday night and is now second on the team in scoring with six points He has two goals and four assists.
Winger Michael Ryder (three goals; three assists) also has six points and four points in his last five games.
Center Patrice Bergeron (three goals; three assists) also has six points.
Forward Marco Sturm (two goals; three assists) has five points.
Defensemen Zdeno Chara has three assists in his last three games and five on the season.
Defenseman Derek Morris (one goal; four assists) had a goal and an assist Thursday and now has five points.
The Bruins have been outscored 28-25 in their first nine games.
The Bruins are averaging 2.75 goals per game and allowing 3.12 goals per game.
The Bruins power play went 1-for-2 in their last game and is now 6-for-36 on the season. They are scoring at a 16.7 percent clip on the man-advantage and ranked 21st in the NHL.
The Bruins penalty kill was perfect again on Thursday killing off both Philadelphia power plays. Boston has allowed ten power-play goals on 38 opportunities against them and are now killing off opponents’ power plays at a 73.7 percent clip, which is 26th in the NHL.
Senators
Captain Daniel Alfredsson (three goals; eight assists) leads the team with eleven points.
Forwards Mike Fisher (two goals; five assists) and Jason Spezza (seven assists) are second on the team with seven points.
The Senators are only 4-for-32 on the power play and scoring at a low 12.7 percent clip. They are ranked 29th in the NHL.
The Senators penalty kill is one of the best in the NHL, ranked fourth at 88.6 percent. They have only allowed four power-play goals on 36 chances against them.
Black and Blue
BruinsForward Marc Savard was placed on long-term injury reserve with a broken left foot Wednesday and will miss four to six weeks.
Forward Milan Lucic was placed on long-term injured reserve Sunday night and had successful surgery on a broken index finger. He is expected to miss four to six weeks.
Senators
Defenseman Filip Kuba (lower body) is out for tonight’s game.
Center Jason Spezza (undisclosed) is questionable for tonight’s game.
Forward Milan Michalek (upper body) is questionable for tonight’s game.
Forward Jesse Winchester (knee) was assigned to Binghamton (AHL) for a two-week conditioning stint.
Goaltender Pascal Leclaire (flu) will dress but is unlikely to start.
This Date In Bruins History
On October 24, 2002, Terry O’Reilly’s No. 24 was raised to the Garden rafters.Overheard
“We had five periods of good competitive hockey (the last two nights). That’s the way we have to play. It’s a really good sign. Get some rest (yesterday) and be ready for anther big one in Ottawa. It’s encouraging when you see this. The guys are committed. We don’t want to allow goals against. We were really pushing hard.“–Bruins veteran forward Mark Recchi told the Boston Herald.
Press Box
BruinsThe Bruins are well aware of the new-look Senators they will face in Ottawa.
With four points in his last five games, Michael Ryder is moving his feet.
Here’s the top three positives and negatives of the past Bruins week.
Shawn Thornton is expected to return to the Bruins lineup tonight.
As the legendary Red Fisher points out, it’s far too early for the doom and gloom talk.
Senators
Here is the game story from the Senators 6-5 loss to Nashville Thursday.
It was not a good night for the newly signed Matt Carkner and his defense partner Alex Picard Thursday night.
Jonathan Cheechoo hasn’t lit the lamp since April 5, 2009.
NHL
Former Bruin Phil Kessel is set to return on November 3.
Avalanche winger Darcy Tucker took a hard hit last night but reportedly escaped with a mild concussion and stitches. Was the hit dirty? You be the judge.
Here are the Sporting News’ top five 2009 UFA signings thus far. Steve Begin isn’t in there but he should make top ten right now.
Allegations that there is bias against Quebec-born Francophone players is proving to be ludicrous.
An ex-NHL goalie is now the caddie for Fred Couples.
Outlook
Since trading the disgruntled Dany Heatley, the Senators have become a much more balanced squad, not depending solely on the potential 50-goal sniper but rather on four balanced lines. Sound familiar? Well, that’s because when the Bruins are playing their brand of hockey, it’s very similar to this new Senators style as head coach Claude Julien can also roll four lines at his disposal.The Bruins must continue that balanced attack tonight and they will need to play with desire and passion. This is not the free-wheeling, error-prone Senators team like they were in the last few years. Under new head coach Corey Clouston, Ottawa is a structured team that makes minimal mistakes. Boston must match and better that disciplined approach if they are to get their first points against a Northeast Division team at Scotia Bank Place.
