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Thomas strong as Bruins top Sens, reach 50 wins

Thu 2nd, April 2009

Boston, MA (Sports Network) - Tim Thomas made 31 saves to help the Boston Bruins to a 2-1 win over the Ottawa Senators at TD Banknorth Garden.

Milan Lucic and Marc Savard each had a goal for the Bruins, who have won five straight games.

Boston holds the top spot in the Eastern Conference with 110 points and trails San Jose by three points for the top spot overall in the NHL.

Also, it was the 50th victory on the season for Boston, the eighth time the team has done that in franchise history and the first since the 1992-93 season.

"It's a huge feat," Savard said of 50 wins. "We're always so hard on ourselves because we had a tough stretch and now we're heading in the right direction again and I think it'll be more enjoyable [Friday] when we go to the rink for practice, smiles will be on the boys. It's a great accomplishment for us."

Daniel Alfredsson scored the lone goal while Alex Auld made 31 stops for the Senators, who have dropped four of their last five games.

With the score tied in the third, Boston grabbed the lead at the 3:02 mark of the frame. Good forechecking resulted in P.J. Axelsson grabbing the puck along the left boards. He sent a backhand pass to the slot where Savard collected it and snapped a wrister into the net.

From there the Bruins were able to hold off the Sens for their milestone win.

"I thought the third period we had, by far, the most opportunities," Ottawa coach Cory Clouston said. "Just a turnover in the neutral zone led to the second goal and that was the difference."

Ottawa grabbed the initial lead at the 5:23 mark of the first period. Jason Spezza held the puck at the left circle and dished it to the slot for Alfredsson, who wristed it home for his 24th goal of the year.

Auld was busy in the first period as he had to make 14 stops to keep the Bruins off the board.

Boston tied the game just 2:27 into the second period as Lucic received the puck in the neutral zone, skated down the left side and from the top of the left circle blew the puck past Auld for his 17th goal of the season.

Game Notes

In 1992-93, Boston finished first in the Northeast Division but was wiped out in a four-game sweep by fourth-place Buffalo...The Bruins host the Rangers on Saturday...Boston has won seven straight against Ottawa, including all five meetings this season...Ottawa hosts Philadelphia on Saturday...Ottawa has been eliminated from postseason play...Neither team scored on the power play with Ottawa having four chances and Boston two.