BOSTON (AP) — Brady Tkachuk, Josh Norris and Tim Stützle each scored a goal in the second period and the Ottawa Senators beat Boston 3-2 on Thursday night and sent the Bruins to their first three-game losing streak this season.
Jesper Froden scored his first NHL goal for Boston, and Marc McLaughlin added his third, just six games into his NHL career. The Bruins had won eight of 10 before the skid.
Boston needs one point or another loss by the Islanders to clinch a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
“I think the eight teams have been pretty much set,” Boston defenseman Matt Grzelcyk said. “We want to make sure we’re playing our best hockey going into the playoffs. … We’ve got to build our game and play with energy. We’ve got to get that back soon and going into the playoffs.”
Long since eliminated from playoff contention, the Senators wiped out a 2-0 deficit with the second-period goals for their second consecutive win. Anton Forsberg stopped 40 shots for the Senators.
“He just looked so calm,” coach D.J. Smith said of his goaltender. “He’s been good for a long time for us. Night after night, he continues to give us a chance, and the third period he was outstanding.”
Boston’s Jeremy Swayman allowed a goal on the first shot he faced and finished with 21 saves after starter Linus Ullmark left following one period with an undisclosed injury.
Swayman stopped two clean breakaways — both against Connor Brown — in the final period.
Ullmark took a slap shot off the mask early in the game from Erik Brannstrom and appeared to stumble a bit after the puck caromed away. He stopped all eight shots he faced.
“He went to the refs after it happened,” Cassidy said. “I think the refs looked at him and he decided that he wanted to continue to play. I don’t believe the spotter took him out after the first period. I was just told, ‘He’s out.’ So, and I never checked again, once he’s out, he’s out, and he’d be done for the night. … I don’t believe it was the spotter. I think it was Linus himself.”
The Senators scored their goals in just under 10 minutes in the second period.
“We were physical,” Smith said. “We just got back to playing the way we play and obviously our power play is quite good.”
With Ottawa trailing 2-0, Tkachuk cut the deficit in half 47 seconds into the period by caroming the puck off Swayman on a shot from behind the net. The Senators then scored twice on the power play just 57 seconds apart.
Skating with a two-man, power-play advantage, Norris one-timed a shot by Swayman from the right circle.
Stützle then scored on a rebound, moving Ottawa ahead at 10:27.
Rookies McLaughlin and Froden gave Boston a 2-0 edge after one period. McLaughlin tipped in a shot from the edge of crease 6:36 into the game. Froden tipped in a wrister from the left circle in the final minute.
MEMORY LANE
The Bruins celebrated the 50th anniversary of their 1971-72 Stanley Cup champions. Hall of Famer Johnny Bucyk, 86, dropped the ceremonial puck with six of his former teammates around him.
DEPLETED D
The Bruins were down two top defensemen with Hampus Lindholm missing his fourth straight game with an upper-body injury and Brandon Carlo out with an undisclosed injury.
“I was told he felt better,” Cassidy said about Carlo. “What does that mean? Available Saturday? That I won’t know until we get to the rink (Friday) morning (for practice).”
NOTES: Bruins defenseman Derek Forbort saved what could have been another goal in the second when he pushed the puck out of the crease and under Swayman before it slid into the net. … Patriots QB Mac Jones watched from a luxury box with two teammates. … Boston’s leading goal scorer David Pastrnak missed his fifth consecutive game with an undisclosed injury. … Ottawa defenseman Jake Sanderson missed his ninth straight with an upper-body injury.
UP NEXT
Senators: Host Toronto on Saturday.
Bruins: Host Pittsburgh on Saturday.
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