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Senators 5, Bruins 1: Alfredsson Hat Trick Leads Afternoon Matinee
Boston, MA (Sports Network) - Daniel Alfredsson's first hat trick of the season fueled Ottawa's 5-1 decision over Boston at TD Garden.
“I don’t think anything he does can surprise you anymore. It is amazing how many points he has put up so far,” said Senators head coach Cory Clouston of Alfredsson, who has collected four goals and six points in two games after returning from a shoulder injury. “He is a huge leader off and on the ice, by example. It helps our team get to the next level.”
Alex Kovalev and Jonathan Cheechoo also scored for the Senators, who won their third straight game.
Mike Fisher added three assists and Brian Elliott won with a 22-save performance.
Daniel Paille provided the only score for the Bruins, who have dropped five of six.
”Unfortunately, they got an early goal and they got momentum and we never got back in it. “I just felt our top guys really look tired tonight,” said Bruins head coach Claude Julien on his team, which arrived home late from a western road trip. “There’s no doubt we need to get rest. We need more energy than we had tonight.”
Tim Thomas, who had won his last 11 decisions against Ottawa, was pulled and suffered the loss after allowing three goals on nine shots in 30-plus minutes. Tuukka Rask finished the contest by stopping 15-of-17 shots.
Kovalev put the Senators ahead 7:39 into the contest, when he moved between two defenders and scored on the backhand. Alfredsson then doubled the advantage at 14:24 on a one-timer from the inner edge of the right circle.
Alfredsson's tip of a Filip Kuba shot gave the Sens a 3-0 edge just after the midway point of regulation and chased Thomas, then the Ottawa franchise icon finished his natural hat trick on the power play against Rask at 13:14.
Paille netted his sixth of the season at the 4:23 mark of the third to get the Bruins on the board, but Cheechoo faked out Rask and slid a shot home with 8:55 left in regulation.
Alfredsson’s last multi-goal game occurred on November 21 against Buffalo. His last trifecta came on January 24, 2008 at Tampa Bay...Boston had won all four meetings this year and nine of 10 dating back to the start of last season...Ottawa’s last win in Boston happened on December 18, 2007, a 3-2 victory.
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