FINAL: Senators 3, Bruins 1 - To little too late costs Bruins

The Bruins fell to the Ottawa Senators 3-1 to close out the regular season and will play the Toronto Maple Leafs in the first round with Florida winning tonight. 

Key Takeaways:

• The Bruins were outshot 11-3 in the first period.  
• Bruins had 3 SOG 25 minutes into the game. 
• Lacked urgency and toughness tonight. 
• It was not until the third period when it felt more like a competitive game as Boston was sleepwalking through the first two periods. 
• Trent Frederic won the 7th player award before the game. 
• Bruins had a lot of great chances in the third to tie the game, but Anton Forsberg stopped them all. 
• Pavel Zacha scored the only Boston goal tonight in the third period on the power play. 

  Pav on the power play. pic.twitter.com/VWhsbcOgXH

  — x - Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) April 17, 2024

• David Pastrnak made a terrible pass leading to a turnover and empty net goal late in the third period to end the game.  
• One of the big savers of the game for Forsberg was on Charlie McAvoy right in front of the net. 

• Jim Montgomery said they will be prepared for either team (Toronto or Tampa Bay) as every team that is in the playoffs is a worthy opponent.

The Bruins will play the Florida Panthers at TD Garden on Saturday with the start time still TBD. Boston will have practice on Thursday at Warrior Ice Arena. 

_______________________________________

WHO: Ottawa Senators (36-41-4) at Bruins (47-19-15)
WHEN: 7 p.m. 
WHERE: TD Garden, Boston. 
TV: NESN
RADIO: 98.5-FM The Sports Hub
LIVE BOX SCORE
ROSTERS

PROJECTED LINES
Boston
Heinen-Zacha-Pastrnak
Marchand-Coyle-DeBrusk
Lauko-Geekie-Frederic
Van Riemsdyk-Boqvist-Megna
Lindholm-McAvoy
Wotherspoon-Peeke
Grzelcyk-Shattenkirk

Ullmark
Swayman

Senators
 Tkachuk —  Pinto —  Batherson
 Joseph —  Greig —  Giroux
 Katchouk —  Smejkal —  Kelly
 Ostapchuk —  MacEwen —  Kubalik
 Sanderson —  Zub
Chychrun —  Bernard-Docker
 Chabot —  Brannstrom
 Forsberg

PREGAME NOTES

• Boston has a one point lead over Florida in the Atlantic Division. With a win tonight, the Bruins take the top spot in the divison. With a loss, they risk Florida stealing it with a win or overtime loss. 
• The Bruins recalled Jayson Megna and sent John Beecher down to Providence.
• Boston also announced that Derek Forbort will report to Providence on an LTI conditioning loan. 
• Megna and James Van Riemsdyk will play.
• Pat Maroon and Beecher are out. 
• Matt Grzelcyk will play as Brandon Carlo is out due to maintenance. Carlo will be ready for game one. 
• Bruins TV announcer Jack Edwards announced today that he will retire following the conclusion of this season.