In Boston, the Bruins took a 2-0 lead over the Ottawa Senators in the first period on Thursday, and then just evaporated.
“We started great, and then I didn’t like our intensity at all in the first period,” Senators coach D.J. Smith said. “To the guys’ credit, the second period was a totally different mindset. We were physical. We got back to playing the way we play. Got some power plays, and our power play is obviously clicking.”
Jesper Froden and Marc McLaughlin scored for Boston in the first.
“It was a good shot, and I lost my glove there on the play. I guess I had better feeling to tip the puck there. It was fun to get the first one,” Froden said. “I was just trying to be in the lane and tip the puck there. I saw it went in. Amazing feeling.”
The Senators’ Brady Tkachuk started a three goal rally in the middle frame to lead to Ottawa to a 3-2 win. His goal came with 47 seconds gone in the period.
“We didn’t like the way we played in the first period, and we wanted to come out back to our identity, and that was shooting pucks,” Tkachuk said. “When we saw Swayman was in net, we just wanted to get as many shots as we could there. … That was a huge maturity moment for our team to come back, get back to our game, and not panic there.”
Boston dropped to 45-24-5, the Bruins lost ground to the Toronto Maple Leafs who hammered the Washington Capitals, 7-3.
“Frustration is a useless emotion. I’m not frustrated. We want to correct things,” Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy said. “We had some miscommunications on the bench tonight. We had some lack of focus, especially on the power play. … Some guys that are typically used to putting up goals and points, when it doesn’t go in, they can get frustrated.”
Josh Norris tied the game, 2-2, midway through the frame.
“[Losing leads] is something that kind of was happening at the beginning of the year,” Boston’s Matt Grzelcyk said. “I thought we did a good job in the first, and then I don’t know if it’s fatigue or lack of urgency, but it’s tough to see. … It’s obviously something we’ve got to address.”
Tim Stutzle hit for the game-winner in the same frame.
“I think we played really solid (after the first), and everyone had a really good game,” Stutzle said. “For sure, [it’s nice]. Especially after a not great start to the year, but in the end, I’m here about winning games.”
Ottawa moved to 28-40-6.
Linus Ullmark got the start for Boston, and made eight saves before leaving the ice with an apparent injury.
Jeremy Swayman, who made 21 saves in the Bruins loss.
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