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Senators take Northeast Division lead from Bruins

Ottawa Senators v Florida Panthers

SUNRISE, FL - FEBRUARY 15: Filip Kuba #17 of the Ottawa Senators is congratulated by teammate Daniel Alfredsson #11 after scoring the final goal of the game against the Florida Panthers on February 15, 2012 at the BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise, Florida. The Senators defeated the Panthers 6-2. (Photo by Joel Auerbach/Getty Images)

Joel Auerbach

Tim Thomas and the Boston Bruins can’t seem to find answers for their struggles, but the Ottawa Senators have no plans to make life easier for them. The surprisingly effective team edged the Montreal Canadiens in a tight 2-1 OT win to take at least a temporary hold on the Northeast Division lead.

Filip Kuba scored the game-winner after Colin Greening tied the game early in the third period.

Here’s how the Boston-Ottawa standings situation looks right now:

Ottawa: 84 points, 10 games remaining, 37 wins, 32 in regulation/OT
Boston: 83 points, 12 games remaining, 40 wins, 33 in regulation/OT

Here is a quick look at how their schedules pan out:


  • The two teams have one game left against each other: an April 5 match in Ottawa, which will be one of the final contests of the regular season for each squad.
  • Ottawa plays its next two games at home, then plays four of five on the road before ending with two of three at home. Overall, they have five home and road contests left.
  • The Bruins play their next two games at home, then have a California trio of road contests. After that, it’s two home games against Southeast Division teams, two away contests against New York squads, then the Ottawa skirmish sandwiched between two home contests against teams who might be fighting for playoff seeding (Pittsburgh and Buffalo). Overall, the Bruins play six more games in Boston and six contests away from Beantown.

Outlook

The Bruins’ games in hand give them an obvious leg up, but their four-game losing streak - all in regulation - doesn’t inspire the same confidence. Ottawa most likely will need to finish the season with one more point, although the regulation/OT tiebreaker isn’t out of reach.

It could very well come down to that April 5 game in Ottawa, but either way, it should be fun (except for especially nervy Bruins fans, perhaps).

With all that in mind, who do you think will take it?

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