Event: Boston Bruins at Ottawa Senators
Date/Time: Thursday, April 5, 2012 - 7:30 p.m. EDT.
Location: ScotiaBank Place (Capacity: 19,153), Ottawa, Ontario.
Broadcast Info: Thursday’s game between the Bruins and the Senators will be broadcast live on NESN. The game can also be heard on 98.5 The Sports Hub, with Dave Goucher providing play-by-play, and Bob Beers providing analysis.
Last Time Out: The Bruins did not improve their record against the Penguins in their last game, after Pittsburgh took a 5-3 win against them in Boston.
The B’s were down 2-0 rather quickly in the first period, with Sidney Crosby and Paul Martin scoring to put the Senators in the lead. However, Benoit Pouliot also scored before the end of the period and cut the lead in half.
Just 18 seconds into the second frame, Milan Lucic netted his own goal tying the game up, but it wasn’t enough for the B’s. They gave up two quick power play goals late and that was enough to bury them. Rich Peverley did score late in the third though, but it was too little too late.
Senators forward Jason Spezza scored his 33rd goal on Tuesday, but it was one goal too short for the Senators who fell 2-1 to the Carolina Hurricanes.
However, they have won four of their last five games heading into the playoffs.
Storyline: The Bruins have the season series won against the Senators, and tonight could be a preview of the first round of the playoffs. The Bruins will be without some of their key players, including Tim Thomas, captain Zdeno Chara, Patrice Bergeron and Johnny Boychuk.
Jason Spezza has been a Bruins killer this year and continues to shine after netting that 33rd goal in his last game. For the Bruins, David Krejci has been on a roll and looks to help his team even without some of the elite players before the playoffs.
Players To Watch: Tonight’s game could be the time for anyone to shine, though both teams are going to put an emphasis on not getting injured. Anton Khudobin could definitely be one to watch for the Bruins though.
Prediction: B’s have done well against this team this season, and just because they are without a couple of players, doesn’t mean they won’t shine. Final Score: Bruins 4, Senators 2.
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