BOSTON - David Rundblad potted the game-winning goal on a power play at 15:59 in the third period as the Ottawa Senators defeated the Boston Bruins, 2-1, in the B's home preseason finale on Thursday night at TD Garden.
"They are a really good team," Rundblad said. "They have some powerful forward. They were very physical and were hitting us. I think we managed to play pretty good. They had more shots than us but I think we started to play better in the second and third [periods]."
Rundblad's goal was assisted by Sergei Gonchar and Jason Spezza, putting the Senators at 1-for-4 on the power play in the game. Ottawa finished the game 1-for-5 in power plays, while the Bruins were also 1-for-5.
Tim Thomas played relatively well between the pipes for the Bruins (3-1-1), recording 18 saves on 20 shots for a .900 save percentage in 59:37 on the ice.
"It's good to get experience for both ways, because it's going to happen at times," said Thomas when asked if he would rather face more shots. "I think you could, even when there's not shots, you still get your practice out of games because you're still moving and you're still fighting through traffic to see, to follow the pass and stuff like that."
Craig Anderson was just a tab bit better in net for Ottawa (3-3-1), registering 39 saves on 40 shots for a .975 save percentage in 60 minutes.
"He was really good today," Rundblad said of Anderson. "We have to thank him for this one."
Boston opened up with ten minutes of aggressive hockey, outshooting Ottawa 11-2 in a scoreless half period. Just minutes later, Lucic lit the lamp with a power play goal, his first of the preseason, on assists from Nathan Horton and David Krejci at 10:35 in the opening period.
The second period featured more of the same for the Bruins, who outshot their opponent 10-5 in the middle period. Neither team found the back of the net, but the B's maintained constant pressure to keep Anderson on his toes.
Ottawa finally showed some signs of life in the third period as Daniel Alfredsson scored on an assist from Colin Greening at 5:10, tying the game at 1-1.
Steve Kampfer gave the crowd a scare midway through the third period, as a collision with Ottawa's Jared Cowen left him lying on the ice near the boards. Kampfer was tended to by the Bruins' medical staff and was eventually helped off the ice by his teammates.
Mika Zibanejad nearly gave his team a one-goal lead towards the latter half of the period, sending the puck past Thomas, but the goal was called off for contact with the goaltender.
"That one was like, he didn't run me over but he came right into the crease without being pushed in and bumped just a little bump to, it'd be different if he had the puck and he came to the net with the puck," Thomas said of the disallowed goal.
Rundblad's goal - his first of the preseason- put the icing on the cake for the Senators in the third.
"It always nice to score," said Rundblad. "Especially against Boston, the former Stanley Cup winners, it's a nice feeling."
Boston wraps up its preseason slate on Saturday when it faces the New York Islanders.
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