Coach Travis Green pointed out mistakes that led to the loss to the Boston Bruins and sent a message to the Ottawa Senators' offense, which includes NHL star Brady Tkachuck.
A commitment to defence has been a central theme for the Senators, not just Tkachuk, under new head coach Travis Green. The Senators have the sixth-best goals-against rate in the league, a 180-degree turn from the fifth-worst in the league last season.
Tim Stutzle scored in the shootout to lift the Ottawa Senators to a 6-5 win over the Boston Bruins. Leevi Merilainen, who made 23 saves in regulation and overtime, turned away all three Bruins skaters in the tiebreaker.
The two teams met over the weekend when the Bruins lost the lead in the final minutes of regulation and then the game in a shootout.
At 5-on-5, the Bruins have allowed shot attempts at a higher rate than every team in the league since the calendar flipped. Only the Chicago Blackhawks, who find themselves in the basement of the NHL, have conceded more shots on target during that span. The Bruins have struggled mightily to limit shots.
Tim Stützle scored the lone goal in the shootout Saturday to give Ottawa a 6-5 win over the Bruins in a matinee that had the feel, intensity, and nastiness of a playoff game. Stützle’s backbreaker capped a furious comeback by the Senators, who trailed, 5-3, with less than four minutes remaining.
BOSTON – It may only be mid-January ... Tim Stutzle paces Ottawa with 43 points (14 goals, 29 assists) in 44 games, while Brady Tkachuk (38 points) leads the club with 18 goals. Drake Batherson (14-25—39), Claude Giroux (9-19—28), and Josh Norris ...
Boston had opened a 5-3 lead on Vinni Lettieri's first goal of the season 11:23 into the third period. Jeremy Swayman made 39 saves for the Bruins. Ottawa Senators' Brady Tkachuk (7) and Boston ...
If the Senators are to end their lengthy playoff drought, their leaders must rise to the occasion. That starts with captain Brady Tkachuk, writes Adam Vingan.
Frank maximizes opportunity, Lindgren gets first set of consecutive starts, more Seattle has won 3 of 4; Malkin leaves with lower-body injury for Pittsburgh Rantanen, Hall debut for Hurricanes; Ullmark close to returning for Senators
When the Senators were in Utah in October, star goalie Linus Ullmark didn’t play due to injury. That will be the case again on Sunday, per Bruce Garrioch, though it’s a different injury. During Ullmark’s absence, the club has relied upon backup goaltender Anton Forsberg and AHL goalie Leevi Meriläinen.