Linus Ullmark shared a goalie hug with old pal Jeremy Swayman during tonight’s pregame skate and was also recognized during a first-period TV timeout with a video tribute that drew a rousing ovation. Ullmark clapped back at the TD Garden crowd.
Without one another, neither goaltender is knocking it out of the park this season, at least so far as their respective teams have struggled out of the gate.
The Bruins seems to have achieved some traction but are yet in search of a comfort zone playing at the pace required to generate offense in the early portion of the 2024-25 season.
Here our tonight’s line charts:
FIRST PERIOD
Shots are 5-4 Ottawa 13 minutes into the game.
Both teams are making a structured, three-zone effort on both sides of the puck, badly wanting to win this game for their goaltender.
Brady Tkachuk to the penalty box for slashing with 5:34 remaining in the first period. Bruins to the powerplay … not a bad powerplay, but Ullmark made any shots that got through look easy.
Elias Lindholm whistled away for interfering with Josh Norris chasing a dump with 1:33 left.
Tim Stutzle made a great keep-in off the boards of a Hampus Lindholm clearing attempt, then made another good one. The Bruins got the puck out, but eventually Ottawa scored with 7.8 seconds on the first-period clock when Norris was left open at the inner edge of the right circle. 1-0 Sens.
First-period shots: 9-7 Ottawa.
SECOND PERIOD
Nikita Zadorov saves a 2-on-1 when two teammates got tangled up in the neutral zone. Zadorov deflected the shot over the glass.
The Bruins went short-handed on the play for too many men on the ice at the 52-second mark.
Pastrnak mishandled a pass but recovered to send away Mark Kastelic, whose attempt was turned away by Ullmark. Mason Lohrei swooped upon the juicy rebound but could not connect cleanly at high speed.
Gorgeous backhand roofer by Pavel Zacha to tie the game at 4:51 of the second period. Covered for a forehand, he went spinnorama on Nick Jensen and over Ullmark’s glove.
The Bruins get another 15 seconds later and forge ahead. TG Garden roars, as Brad Marchand goes high with the rebound of another chance.
Ottawa coach Travis Green calls timeout 5:11 into the period.
The Senators are clearly upping their aggression, looking to create anxiety on Boston’s puck plays. Twice, the Bruins made sound D-to-D relays, but turnovers in the next sequence nearly cost them. Parker Wotherspoon was without a stick (broken so he had to discard it), and this was with the long change (second period).
Swayman made a great save on Ridly Greig, then denied Tkachuk on a hampered breakaway. Zadorov was called for slashing on the Tkachuk chance, so the Senators go to the powerplay at 11:26 trailing 2-1.
The Bruins continue to pass up Grade A scoring chances, no pun intended, but the shoe fits. The Bruins also dodged a bullet in their own end when Marchand went for a touch pass against the forecheck, which got the turnover but failed to generate a clean shot on Swayman.
RINK RAP: Tyler Johnson has more speed, more pop up and down the ice. Zacha, meanwhile, is back at center to no surprise. His overall game has been Boston’s best for over a week now. Zacha is making solid decisions, playing with tenacity with and without the puck, and is certainly deserving of the recent scoring production.
Former LA King Michael Amadio ties the game off the rush with 2:44 left in the second period.
Brandon Carlo breaks up what loomed as a potential momentum rush for Ottawa.
Pastrnak tries to take the puck around Greig on the breakout, gets knocked down, Greig alone on Swayman and the whistle blows – penalty on Greig with 1:45 left in the period. Bruins to the powerplay.
Dismal powerplay. The puck wouldn’t lay down for the Bruins except for when Zacha controlled it to fortify the zone entry. Ottawa breaks out, old friend Claude Giroux on the 2-on-1, Swayman with the save. The only good shot. Crowd boos. Time expires.
Shots after two: 20-15 Ottawa.
THIRD PERIOD
Greig will have 15 seconds left to serve, and the Bruins will have to be on their toes for his exit from the box.
All Sens to start the third, Swayman stops Tkachuk from the circle.
Ottawa D Travis Hamonic down the runway with his right glove removed, but maybe to paw at his face. He was acting more like he took a stray puck up high.
Cole Koepke down a minute in the corner after Jensen hit him, crushing him while Koepke was in a turn. Trent Frederic went for the response fight but was cut off by Norris. Zadorov followed up with Jensen but apparently learned in the clinch it was an unintentional hit.
Koepke off the ice, seemed to have wrenched his neck.
Swayman with a save. 10:19 left in regulation. Sens now enjoy a 25-15 shots advantage. This has been their game.
Carlo almost draws an unsportsmanlike minor for giving the ref an earful on his way to the bench. The Sens, until the last shift, had the Bruins pinned through a shift change. Shots are 28-15.
Koepke returned and had a strong shift, intercepting a clearing attempt for the Bruins’ only sustained pressure of the period.
Noah Gregor with a nice shot from the high center point, save Swayman low glove near the post. Great shot.
Bruins ice it with 33.6 seconds left in regulation.
Sens stall the clock behind their own net with 11 seconds and counting. This game goes to overtime.
Regulation shots on goal: 32-15 Ottawa (third period 12-0 Sens).
OVERTIME
It only took the deserving team 21 seconds to win it.
Swayman, 7 seconds into OT, made a great stop on Norris. Marchand set up Pastrnak at the other end, but Ullmark easily read his off-wing slapper. Two on one for Ottawa, and Tkachuk makes no mistake, 3-2 Sens win.
The Bruins at least had the one chance to steal the game, but justice prevailed. Ottawa clearly deserved the two points, and Ullmark gets the win without having to make a third-period save.
Swayman was outstanding in defeat (31 saves).
Drive safely.
Rink Rap with Mick Colageo 