Final
Chara, Bruins top Senators with late goal
Oct 29, 2006 - 1:57 AM BOSTON (Ticker) -- Defenseman Zdeno Chara helped the Boston Bruins continue their success against his former team.Chara scored a go-ahead power-play goal late in the third period and P.J. Axelsson tallied earlier in the final session as the Bruins posted a 2-1 victory over the Ottawa Senators to snap a two-game losing streak.
Ottawa has now lost four straight contests on the road against Boston. On Saturday, they had their four-game winning streak snapped by the struggling Bruins.
"You have to play those kind of games you have to win in the playoffs, and I know we are so far away from the playoffs that it sounds like an odd statement, but those are the kind of games you have to win," Boston coach Dave Lewis said.
Chara unleashed a slap shot from the point through traffic and under goaltender Martin Gerber's left pad to snap a 1-1 tie with 4:25 remaining in the game. It was the second tally of the campaign for Chara, who played four seasons with the Senators.
"It's good to get back on track mentally and physically," Chara said. "Now we have four or five days off and for sure it is a different story when you have four or five days after losing a game."
"I didn't see the shot. I couldn't find (it) and I figured there would be a shot and just tried to cover as much as possible," Gerber said.
Axelsson scored an unassisted goal at the 7:05 mark of the third period to make it 1-1.
"That was a lucky play and that happens sometimes, but we needed a bounce going our way and we got that tonight," Axelsson said. "It was not pretty out there but the luck was on our side tonight."
Netminder Tim Thomas made 35 saves for the Bruins, who won for just the second time in their last seven games. It was Thomas' first victory of the season.
"It was huge, we needed it desperately," Thomas said. "Our backs are against the walls, but we can't afford to panic or we never would have gotten this win. The urgency was there without the panic and we just worked hard."
Dany Heatley tallied a power-play goal, his seventh of the season, with 2:39 remaining in the second session. Gerber made 30 saves for the Senators.
"It's one of those games that you are disappointed, very disappointed that you lose because we had a chance to put it away many times," Ottawa coach Bryan Murray said. "To be fair, Thomas play real well for them."
No one has shouted yet.
Be the first!
Be the first!
Related News
- 2024 World Juniors PRIMER: Everything you need to know! Dec 25
- Public Skate: Bruins vs. Wild Dec 23
- Shattenkirk talks finding balance in his game Dec 23
- Preview: Bruins vs. Wild again, this time in Minnesota Dec 23
- Public Skate: Bruins vs. Jets Dec 22
- Preview: Bruins begin Christmas road trip with a visit to Winnipeg Dec 22
- Morning Skate: Missed Dec 20
- Recap: Bruins fall to rallying Wild, 4-3, in OT Dec 20
- Public Skate: Bruins vs. Wild Dec 19
- Affiliate Report: Providence pushes past Pennsylvania foes, Maine on the right track Dec 19
- Preview: Bruins look to capitalize on a tired Wild team tonight Dec 19
- Matthew Poitras joins Canada at the WJC! Dec 18