Bruins-Senators: Boston Holds Off Ottawa to Clinch Playoff Spot

It was th biggest night Friday in the eastern conference for the Bruins. This was the night that the bruins could clinch a seat in the run for Lord Stanley’s cup.

In the first both teams came out with matching intensity. At 7:35 of the period Sean Donovan would go to the penalty box for holding and the Bruins would go on there first power play. Boston would get a few good shots but not convert. Donavan would return to the ice and he wouldn’t stay long at 9:53 of the first he would go back to the box for hooking and give Boston there second chance on the Power play. The Bruins would not convert again and go 0 for 2.

Then the ice would tilt in the home team Senators favor. At 10:24 Marco Sturm would go for high sticking. Ottawa would have the same trouble converting and go 0 for 1 in the period. Both teams would get some key scoring chances, but both goalies were up for the test Ottawa’s Martin Gerber stopped all 8 of the bruins shots in the first and the Bruin’s goalie Tim Thomas stopping all 6 of the shots from Ottawa.  

On to the second in a scoreless tie one goalie would have to breakdown and one did at 6:39 of the second Vladimir Sobotka would give big Zedano Chara the one timer and he would beat Gerber giving Boston the lead. Ottawa would try to come back getting a second power play opportunity at 13:03 with Wideman in the box for holding but it wouldn’t change the score.  

As the play stopped Chara and Neil would have a shoving contest and that would result in matching penalties at 15:21. Play would continue 4 on 4. Boston would add 4 shots to there total giving them a total of 12 and Ottawa would get no shots on net and head to the locker room down by only 1 goal.

Now, in order to make the playoffs, the Bruins would have to win their game and Carolina would have to lose to Florida, or Philadelphia would have to lose to New Jersey. Florida would beat Carolina and New Jersey would get shut out by Philadelphia. The Bruins just needing to hold on to clinch playoff spot.

Start of the third just 4:21 in Vladimir Sobotka finds Peter Schafer behind the Ottawa net he would set up Phil Kessel in front for a 2-0 lead. Just what the Bruins need to seal there playoff spot. Ottawa would not let the Bruins go that easy. At 11:46 the Senators would finally make a mark on the score board.

Antoine Vermette would find the puck in a scramble in front of the Boston goal and cash it in to cut the Bruins' lead in half 2-1. Finally Ottawa would pull there goalie but it would not be enough and the Bruins would end the game 2-1 with 29 shots and the birth of a playoff spot.

Ottawa will also be in the playoffs, even with the loss to Boston.