Boston, MA (Sports Network) - Zdeno Chara tallied the game-winning goal with
4:25 left, lifting the Boston Bruins over his former team, the Ottawa
Senators, 2-1.
Per-Johan Axelsson had a goal and an assist for the Bruins, who ended a two-
game slide and won for just the second time in seven games. Tim Thomas made 35
saves for Boston, which has won five of the last six meetings against Ottawa
dating back to last season.
Chara, making his first appearance against the Senators since he signed with
the Bruins in the offseason, gave Boston the win with his power play goal. Up
a man, Chara received the puck from Axelsson at the top of the right circle.
He skated towards the middle of the ice and unleashed a slapper that got by
Senators netminder Martin Gerber. The puck traveled through a pair of screens
and appeared to be deflected, but it was unclear who it might have hit.
"Yes, I was playing my former team but my main focus was on those two points,"
said Chara. "It did not matter who we would play. We went out to win. We
really needed this win and we got it and it's a nice feeling"
The goal ended Ottawa's streak of 35 straight penalty kills.
"That's what he was for us," said Ottawa head coach Bryan Murray of Chara.
"He's a big man out there, played a lot of minutes and matched up against the
better lines and shot the puck at times. Obviously, they've really focused on
him being the point man on the power play and finally he got one through."
Dany Heatley scored the lone goal for the Senators, who had a three-game win
streak halted.
Down 1-0, Boston started its comeback in the third period. Just over seven
minutes into the stanza Axelsson tied the contest with an unassisted goal, his
second of the season. Axelsson stole the puck in the offensive zone, skated in
on Gerber an beat the netminder high to the stick side.
Gerber ended with 30 saves.
Ottawa got the first goal of the game when Heatley stuffed home the puck on
the power play with 2:39 left in the second period.
