A night after letting an opportunity to clinch the Atlantic Division title slip, the Boston Bruins return home to face the Ottawa Senators in their regular-season finale on Tuesday.
Boston coach Jim Montgomery has noted that his team solely is focused on sharpening its game ahead of the upcoming Stanley Cup playoffs, but a 2-0 road loss to the Washington Capitals on Monday marked a step back and delayed a possible division clinch.
“I thought (the Capitals) played with a lot of desperation,” Montgomery said. “I thought their checking skills were good (and) they managed the puck well. I didn’t think we were at their level.”
The Bruins (47-19-15, 109 points) still sit one point ahead of the Florida Panthers, who conclude on Tuesday with a home game against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Meanwhile, Ottawa (36-41-4, 76 points) had won back-to-back games and eight of the past 12 before Monday, when it took a 4-0 road loss against the New York Rangers. The result allowed New York to clinch the Presidents’ Trophy.
The Bruins have been shut out just twice this season, each time by Washington’s Charlie Lindgren. He faced Boston’s season-low 16 shots on Monday.
“I just think they were more prepared and (wanted) it a little more than we did,” Bruins forward Charlie Coyle said. “You never want to admit that. It’s a tough thing to say, but that’s what it looked like out there. They were fighting for their lives and they played like it.”
Jeremy Swayman was a major bright spot on Monday with 23 saves for the Bruins, who lost defenseman Brandon Carlo due to an undisclosed injury in the third period.
Boston also looks to fix its power play, which is just 2-for-30 over the past 11 games.
“It’s definitely something we can be better at and improve upon, and we’ll continue to work on it,” Bruins captain Brad Marchand said. “But we’re not letting it get us down.”
The Bruins’ Tuesday opponent will not have the same level of desperation. Ottawa completes a closing back-to-back of its own before sitting out the playoffs for the seventh straight season.
“We had a few breakdowns in our end (in the Monday loss to the Rangers),” Senators defenseman Jake Sanderson said. “A team like that, with the skill they have, they’re going to capitalize.”
Senators interim coach Jacques Martin — the 71-year-old who will return to his role as a senior adviser to the coaching staff following the season — had been happy with his team’s progress during a stretch that included consecutive wins prior to the trip to New York.
“We’ve just got to tighten up a little bit,” Martin said Monday morning. “Our power play was exceptional (on Saturday against Montreal) with three goals, so we’ve just got to get a little more production five-on-five.”
That production didn’t come on Monday night, however, as Ottawa was blanked for the fourth time. The previous three shutouts had all come against the Panthers.
Captain Brady Tkachuk, whose 37 goals and 73 points lead the Senators, had three goals and two assists in his previous two games.
Tkachuk will be a key piece going forward as Martin leaves the bench and his players look to carry on what was learned this season.
Martin took on the interim coaching role on Dec. 18 when D.J. Smith was fired.
“We’ve laid some foundation and they have a better understanding of what’s required to have success,” Martin said. “There’s an understanding that it’s not always pleasant and there’s a price to pay to win. … A successful team is 20 people that need to embrace the role that they have and embrace what they bring to the team.”
–Field Level Media