BSJ Game Report: Senators 3, Bruins 2 (SO) - Cam Talbot steals win from the Bruins

By Patrick Donnelly
Special to BSJ

Everything you need to know from the Bruins’ 3-2 shootout loss to the Devils, with BSJ insight and analysis:

BOX SCORE 

HEADLINES

Cam Talbot wills Senators past Bruins in Ottawa: Boston was all over the Senators for most of the game, outshooting them 51-32 on the night and 27-5 in the third period. 

Enter Cam Talbot. The Sens netminder was exceptional, backstopping Ottawa (15-16-3) to the shootout win with 49 saves. Tim Stützle and Alex DeBrincat added goals in the second period. DeBrincat also scored the only goal in the shootout. 

Jeremy Swayman was strong in his own right with 31 saves for Boston (27-4-3), which failed to exact revenge for a 7-5 loss at Ottawa back in October. Jake DeBrusk scored a goal to remain hot, while Pavel Zacha broke through for the first time since Nov. 13 (18 games). 

The Bruins controlled much of the first period, and dominated the third. But Boston failed to capitalize on Talbot when it mattered most until Zacha's late equalizer in the third. 

The second period gave the Bruins trouble, from a disallowed goal, to a discombobulated penalty kill, to getting caught sleeping in a weird sequence on DeBrincat's goal. 

In overtime, it came down to which goalie would blink first, and neither did. Swayman stopped each of the six shots he faced, including a breakaway for Brady Tkachuk in the closing seconds, and Talbot was perfect on four shots. 

THREE UP

Jake DeBrusk: The winger now has goals in three straight games, and his goal tonight showcased one of his most effective traits, his speed. He turned on the jets to motor past Thomas Chabot pretty easily before putting home the fortuitous bounce. With 27 points in 33 games, DeBrusk is having some of the best production of his career. 

Jeremy Swayman: Talbot may have stolen the show at the other end, but  Swayman continues to rebound nicely after a tough start to the season. He didn’t have much of a chance on the Stützle goal, but he was there when the Bruins needed him most on some first-period breakaways before going shot-for-shot with Talbot in overtime.

Patrice Bergeron: The captain was a monster at 5-on-5 once again, leading the Bruins with a 73.33 Corsi-for percentage. He would have had a goal to show for his efforts, too, picking the corner short-side from the left circle early in the second, but Ottawa successfully challenged for offside.

THREE DOWN

The Zacha-Krejci-Pastrnak line: Boston’s second trio was ineffective at even strength for most of the game. The line combined for a team-worst Corsi-for of 37.5 percent and struggled to build many chances, which was particularly glaring in a game where the Bruins outshot Ottawa by 19 for the game (22 in the third period). Jim Montgomery eventually swapped Zacha out for Taylor Hall in the third. 

Trent Frederic: He’s certainly picked up his play from last season, but Frederic’s penalty in the second period was not his best moment. Chalk it up to the heat of the moment or instincts, but his minor for closing his hand over the puck afforded Ottawa the perfect opportunity to strike first. 

That second period: The Bruins slipped back into a holiday hangover in the middle stanza after a solid opening period to come out of the break. The second serves as a big outlier in a game where possession and shot metrics heavily favored Boston. Oddly enough, the Bruins came into the game with a plus-17 goal differential in the second, compared to Ottawa's minus-eight. 

PLAY OF THE GAME

Talbot had a number of big-time saves throughout the game, but this desperation save on David Pastrnak on a 3-on-1 rush late preserved Ottawa’s lead before the Bruins later tied it. 

LOOSE PUCKS

Brad Marchand skated in his 900th career NHL game. Meanwhile, Craig Smith can’t buy a goal.

LOOKING AHEAD

The Bruins will continue their road swing when they visit the New Jersey Devils for the second time in five days. Puck drop is slated for 7:30 p.m.