B's Get Thumped at Home

Well not that it is really any surprise, but the Boston Bruins lost last night to the Ottawa Senators 5-2. I am not too angry with the loss except to say it is how the Bruins lost. Generally speaking the Sens are going to score at least 4 goals against a young Bruins defense. After all, Ottawa boasts arguably 3 of the best scorers in the game right now. But as I so poetically put it to Kate From England last night, the Bruins needed to make the Sens earn the victory not hand it right to them. After a well played first period, which saw both teams notch a goal, The B's came out flat in the second, took too many penalties and were absolutely horrendous in their own zone. Hall Gill (with a little help from rookie Milan Jurcina) coughed up the puck in his own end and gave Bryan Smolinski a gift that made the game 2-1. Less than 2 minutes later, and with the man advantage, Boston gave up a two man breakaway and Peter Schaefer made no mistake on the rebound making it 3-1.
One positive thing about the game is that the Bruins did play convincing in the third period. Although outscored 1-0, they didn't collapse as they have so often this year. Dominik Hasek held on to the lead in the 3rd period as Ottawa was out shot 15-10. The Bruins next play on Saturday when they travel to New York to take on the Islanders.