Silver Nuggets: Joe Haggerty feels Bruins want to play the Senators

Joe Haggerty is a Boston reporter that covers the Bruins and feels that they would prefer to play the Ottawa Senators. Of course when Haggerty asked Brian Rolston if he had a preference, Rolston wouldn't bite. Still, Haggerty feels that if the Bruins could speak candidly, they would prefer to play Ottawa instead of Buffalo or Washington. Buffalo is actually no longer an option for Boston (but it was the time of writing).

Really though, can you blame the Bruins if they feel that way? They have dominated Ottawa for years, are 4-1-0 against them this season and Tim Thomas' career save percentage is 0.937 against Ottawa. Craig Anderson meanwhile has been brutal against Boston this season, allowing 14 goals and sporting a 0.860 save percentage in three games against them.

On the plus side, Erik Karlsson seems to have figured out Tim Thomas, scoring a goal in each of the last three games against Boston. Jason Spezza has six points in five games against Boston while Daniel Alfredsson has five in four games. Also, the Senators have blown a two-goal lead late in the second period as well as another loss that was a tie game midway through the third. Ottawa has been able to score goals against Boston (well better than in the past anyway), but the key will be if Craig Anderson can play better than he did during the regular season.

More after the jump.

Here are today's links:

  • Tonight's prediction panel is surprisingly pessimistic. Peter does say 5-2 for Ottawa though. (Senators Extra)
  • Sergei Gonchar won't play tonight due to a minor lower body injury. (Ottawa Senators)
  • Bryan Murray won't rule out the Senators making some noise in the playoffs. (Ottawa Sun, Senators Extra)
  • Ottawa wants to finish the season strong and see where they are after 82 games. (Ottawa Sun, Senators Extra)
  • Daniel Alfredsson doesn't feel he has done anything special this year in terms of leadership, and gives a lot of credit to Jason Spezza and Chris Phillips. (Erin Nicks)
  • Paul MacLean though feels Alfredsson deserves a lot of credit himself. (Erin Nicks)
  • Nichols continues his defence of Erik Karlsson. Here he looks at the percentage of Ottawa goals that Karlsson is on the ice for, and it is remarkably similar to Zdeno Chara. Shea Weber and Alex Pietrangelo fare better though. (The 6th Sens)
  • And here Nichols points out how Karlsson can kill penalties when asked to. Cory Clouston used him on the penalty kill and the penalty kill was good. However - the team was not. Paul MacLean is just using his assets more intelligently. (The 6th Sens)

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