Sens beat Bruins in shootout to pull ahead in chase
BOSTON >> The Ottawa Senators gave a big cheer in the visitors’ dressing room to celebrate a return to the playoffs after sitting out last season.
Then they turned their attention to the weekend.
“We’re going to keep pushing,” coach Guy Boucher said on Thursday night after the 2-1 shootout victory over Boston gave them a spot in the postseason and a one-point lead over the Bruins in the Atlantic Division.
The Senators have two games left, against the Rangers and Islanders; Boston has one, against the NHLleading Washington Capitals. Either team can finish as high as second in the division or as low as fourth, which would relegate it to a wild-card berth. So can Toronto. “That was also the message in the room,” Boucher said. “Right now, it’s great. But also we want more.”
Kyle Turris scored the only goal in the shootout, Alexandre Burrows scored in regulation, and Craig Anderson stopped 28 shots and three more in the shootout to help the Senators snap the Bruins’ six-game winning streak.
Anderson stopped Drew Stafford, who scored Boston’s only goal, and Ryan Spooner before straddling the goalpost to turn away David Pastrnak’s attempt at the end.
Tuukka Rask stopped 25 shots for Boston, which went 0-4 against Ottawa this season. The Senators had never swept the Bruins in a season series. PENGUINS 7, DEVILS 4 >> Pittsburgh clinched home-ice advantage for their first-round playoff series against Columbus with a victory over New Jersey.
The Penguins got goals from seven players, two assists from Sidney Crosby — including a spectacular nolook, backhand pass to give Conor Sheary a shot into an open net — and 34 saves from Matt Murray in picking up their 50th win of the season. LIGHTNING 4, MAPLE LEAFS 1 >> Brayden Point scored two goals and Tampa Bay kept its slim playoff hopes alive by beating Toronto.
Nikita Kucherov and Michael Bournival also scored for the Lightning, who prevented the Maple Leafs from clinching their first postseason berth in four years. ISLANDERS 3, HURRICANES 0>> Jaroslav Halak stopped 29 shots in his second shutout of the season, and fast-starting New York beat Carolina. JETS 5, BLUE JACKETS 4 >> Jacob Trouba scored twice and Eric Comrie had 35 saves in his NHL debut as Winnipeg beat slumping Columbus. BLUES 6, PANTHERS 3 >> Jaden Schwartz had a goal and two assists to lead surging St. Louis over Florida.
David Perron, Vladimir Tarasenko and Alex Pietrangelo each had a goal and an assist, and Patrick Berglund and Ryan Reaves also scored as the Blues improved to 132-2 in their last 17 games. Jake Allen had 29 saves.