Final
Sens hope to bounce back in Montreal
Mar 12, 2015 - 2:46 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - Every loss is a critical one for the Ottawa Senators and they'll try to avoid a second defeat in a row on Thursday night when they visit the Atlantic Division-leading Montreal Canadiens.The Senators used a recent 8-0-1 surge to work their way back into the playoff mix, but that point streak ended on Tuesday against the team they are chasing for a wild card spot, the Boston Bruins. Ottawa lost a 3-1 decision, falling seven points back of Boston.
It wasn't for lack of effort by the Senators, who outshot the Bruins 40-22 in the game. That included a 21-10 margin in the second period, when Boston ironically scored all three of its goals.
Craig Anderson, making a second straight start since missing 17 games in a row with a hand injury, recorded 19 saves and Matt Puempel scored his first NHL goal. The 24th overall pick of the 2011 draft was skating in his seventh career game.
"One thing this team has shown over the last little while is resilience," said Ottawa head coach Dave Cameron, whose club fell to 10-2-2 in its past 14 games. "We've been down and counted out before. We're just going to focus on how to beat Montreal the next game."
Cameron made the decision to go with Anderson again over rookie Andrew Hammond, who is 7-0-1 to begin his career after getting called up to replace Anderson and the still-injured Robin Lehner.
With Ottawa set to visit the New York Islanders on Saturday, it is unknown if Cameron will stick with Anderson or go back to Hammond. Anderson is 7-7-2 in his career versus the Canadiens with a 3.13 goals against average and .892 save percentage in 17 games (15 starts).
Montreal will attempt to spoil Ottawa's playoff push tonight and keep hold of first place in the division. The Canadiens lead the Tampa Bay Lightning by one point in the standings with a game in hand after losing a 1-0 overtime decision to the Bolts on Tuesday. Tampa is playing at Boston on Thursday.
Carey Price was chasing his career high-tying eighth shutout of the season, but instead allowed the game-winner 63 seconds into overtime. He turned away an initial shot by Tampa Bay's Tyler Johnson, who was able to put home his own rebound to spoil Price's 35-save effort.
The Canadiens were coming off a 2-0 win over Arizona on Saturday for their only victory on a four-game road trip against Western Conference teams (1-2-1).
"Our team was ready to play and we understood the purpose of tonight's game," said Canadiens coach Michel Therrien. "They're a really good hockey team, a lot of speed. They're tough to play against. You could tell as the game went on that (we had a lack of energy), which was probably due to that long trip."
Price is 17-6-4 with a 2.30 GAA, .922 save percentage and three shutouts in 29 games (28 starts) versus the Senators.
The Canadiens have lost two of three to the Sens this season, with both losses coming in Ottawa. Montreal recorded a 4-1 victory at home over Ottawa on Dec. 20 and have won six of the past eight played at Bell Centre.
Max Pacioretty has two goals and two assists in three games versus the Senators this season, while Milan Michalek and Mark Stone are both pacing the Sens offense in this season series with a goal and three assists each.
Montreal defenseman Sergei Gonchar could appear in his 1,300th career game tonight. He has logged 810 points over his career, which includes a three- season stint with Ottawa.
- OTTAWA: 5
MONTREAL: 2
Final
Mar 12 10:01 PM - OTTAWA: 2
MONTREAL: 2
End of 2nd
Mar 12 9:07 PM - OTTAWA: 0
MONTREAL: 2
End of 1st
Mar 12 8:14 PM - OTTAWA: 0
MONTREAL: 0
1st Period - 19:57
Mar 12 7:39 PM
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