Kicking off a busy end-of-January stretch for both teams, the Ottawa Senators host the Boston Bruins in a key Saturday afternoon clash of clubs on the Eastern Conference playoff bubble.
The game marks the first of seven in the final 13 days of the month on the teams’ respective schedules, with another head-to-head meeting slated for Thursday in Boston.
Back-to-back divisional wins following a 0-5-1 skid have helped the Bruins take a one-point lead for the final wild-card spot in the East, though the Senators have two games in hand.
“It’s a logjam (in the standings) right now,” Bruins interim coach Joe Sacco said. “For us, it’s about zeroing in on the games that are in front of us and making sure that we’re just trying to play our game and stick to our process.”
The Bruins’ recent wins over the Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning have come despite allowing 43 and 45 shots, respectively. Goaltender Jeremy Swayman has continued to play his best hockey of the season with a .925 save percentage in his last nine starts.
“You don’t want to give up as many chances as we have the last couple games, but certainly when he’s playing like that, it makes everybody feel a little bit … more confident,” Sacco said.
More consistency likely is coming to Boston’s lineup soon. Forward Mark Kastelic (upper body) has participated in practice in full after missing two games and defenseman Hampus Lindholm (lower-body) is trending toward returning for the first time since November.
Kastelic is awaiting final clearance to play on Saturday. Cole Koepke (upper body) will not be in the lineup.
Forward Vinni Lettieri and defenseman Michael Callahan both remained with the team on Friday. With Charlie McAvoy (undisclosed) also on reserve, Callahan made his NHL debut on Tuesday against Tampa Bay.
“Just wearing the jersey, being from here, it means a lot to me and to my family, too,” Callahan said. “Hopefully there’s a lot more to come.”
David Pastrnak has been crucial in the changing lineup, collecting 11 points (seven goals, four assists) in seven games in January.
The Senators had a three-game win streak snapped Thursday in a 1-0 overtime loss to the Washington Capitals.
Ottawa’s last two setbacks, and four in total this season, have come in shutout fashion.
Coach Travis Green, however, was pleased with his team’s effort in a “measuring stick”-type contest against the conference’s best team.
“I thought we played great,” Green said. “Did we have our looks to win the game? Yeah. Could we have played a little better. Yeah, certain parts, but they’ve got a good hockey team. … Our checking game has been solid lately.”
Goaltending has also been important to the strong defensive effort, and with former Bruin Linus Ullmark absent for the last 10 games (back injury), Leevi Merilainen is stepping up in a big way.
The 22-year-old Finnish rookie, who is coming off a 26-save effort against the Capitals, has allowed just three goals on 106 shots (.972) across four straight starts.
“It’s a huge confidence (boost) for us when we have goalies back there that are standing tall and confident in net … and it’s exciting to see someone like (Merilainen) have success,” Ottawa defenseman Nick Jensen said.
The Senators also had an NHL debut in their last game, as Ottawa native Donovan Sebrango skated in place of fellow defenseman Thomas Chabot, who took a puck to the face Tuesday against the New York Islanders and remains day-to-day.
“(We told him to) play with confidence — a lot like we tell the rest of our group — play with energy, do what got you here,” Green said. “I thought he did a good job.”
–Field Level Media
