Boston’s comeback wasn’t enough to lift the Bruins past the Senators as Bobby Ryan’s power play goal in overtime gave Ottawa a 2-1 series lead.
The Bruins came into Game No.3 hoping to rebound from their heartbreaking overtime loss in Game No. 2, a game they would have won had they not blown a 3-1 3rd period lead.
The Bruins picked up right where they left off Saturday and got off to a very sluggish start. Mike Hoffman and Derick Brassard scored 30 seconds apart to give the Senators an early 2-0 lead.
Hoffman scored again early in the 2nd period, silencing TD Garden and giving the Senators a commanding 3-0 lead
Just as the game seemed to turn into a route however, the Bruins offense exploded. Noel Acciari got the Bruins on the board and 30 seconds later, David Backes scored off of a turnover and pulled the Bruins within 1.
The Bruins rode the momentum and David Pastrnak tied the game 3-3 on the power play.
Unfortunately for the Bruins, the good fortune would end there and they would not find the back of the net again.
Both teams settled down after the 2nd period, resulting in a scoreless 3rd.
Almost five minutes into overtime, Riley Nash was sent to the penalty box on a controversial roughing penalty on Bobby Ryan. Ryan would cash in on the ensuing power play and win the game for the Senators.
The overtime penalty may have been a debatable call, but the Bruins couldn’t stay out of the penalty box all night. They found themselves on the penalty kill six times.
Boston’s blue line has certainly seen healthier days and it’s putting a lot of pressure on Tuukka Rask who hasn’t looked sharp in the last two games of the series.
The Bruins will look to even the series in Game No. 4 in Boston on Wednesday at 7 p.m.
