A physical affair Saturday night between the Boston Bruins and Ottawa Senators went to overtime, where David Pastrnak found the back of the net to give Boston the 3-2 win.
Both sides were not able to find the net in the first period, but that quickly changed in the second period. Jake DeBrusk put the Bruins on the board first, batting a puck out of the air with his backhand in the slot to make it 1-0 Boston early into the second period.
Though the Senators responded just minutes later with Tim Stutzle collecting a rebound to tie it, 1-1.
An energizing hit from Connor Clifton rose tension midway through the second, starting a scrum between both sides. That gave Ottawa a powerplay as two Bruins went to the box — Clifton and Nick Foligno — compared to just one Senator. Boston killed the penalty off rather easily though. Another scrum resulted in Nick Foligno’s encounter with Sens goalie Anton Forsberg.
Charlie Coyle from behind the net, late in the second, then found Brandon Carlo — who was questionable tonight with a cut that he sustained in morning skate — in the slot who tapped it in for the 2-1 lead that they took into the third. Coyle’s pass was a soft and bouncy one, which Forsberg attempted to cover but missed — giving Carlo the empty net due to Forsberg being out of position.
Ottawa had a key chance to tie it halfway through the third on the power play, as Tyler Ennis’ shot hit off the post before another shot from Ennis was gloved by Jeremy Swayman, as he flashed the leather to keep it a one-goal lead for Boston.
The Senators would tie it with just under four minutes left in regulation, as Logan Brown found Nick Holden in the slot, who sniped it home past Swayman for the 2-2 tie.
Curtis Lazar had a chance late in the final seconds after DeBrusk found him in the slot, but he missed the open left side by shooting it wide right, despite being just several feet away from the net. That sent it to overtime.
Matt Grzelcyk left in the third period after a collision with Senators’ Brady Tkachuk but later returned for overtime.
Both teams traded chances in overtime, but Pastrnak struck with a game-winning one-timer from the point three minutes into the fourth period. Pastrnak was pointless in his past three games.
Boston will close out the road trip Monday night against the Avalanche.
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