A commitment to defence has been a central theme for the Senators, not just Tkachuk, under new head coach Travis Green. The Senators have the sixth-best goals-against rate in the league, a 180-degree turn from the fifth-worst in the league last season.

The Boston Bruins have little time to dwell on negatives. A night after the Bruins' season of ups and downs continued with a 5-1 road loss to the New Jersey Devils, Boston returns to home ice for a Thursday night matchup against the Atlantic Division rival Ottawa Senators.

The two teams met over the weekend when the Bruins lost the lead in the final minutes of regulation and then the game in a shootout.

Tim Stutzle scored in the shootout to lift the Ottawa Senators to a 6-5 win over the Boston Bruins. Leevi Merilainen, who made 23 saves in regulation and overtime, turned away all three Bruins skaters in the tiebreaker.

The Senators came back and emerged victorious in a playoff-like atmosphere against the Bruins at the Canadian Tire Centre.

At 5-on-5, the Bruins have allowed shot attempts at a higher rate than every team in the league since the calendar flipped. Only the Chicago Blackhawks, who find themselves in the basement of the NHL, have conceded more shots on target during that span. The Bruins have struggled mightily to limit shots.

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Tim Stützle scored the lone goal in the shootout Saturday to give Ottawa a 6-5 win over the Bruins in a matinee that had the feel, intensity, and nastiness of a playoff game. Stützle’s backbreaker capped a furious comeback by the Senators, who trailed, 5-3, with less than four minutes remaining.

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Tim Stutzle's shootout goal rallied the Ottawa Senators to a 6-5 win over the Boston Bruins on Saturday afternoon. Leevi Merilainen, who made 23 saves, turned away all three Bruins skaters in the shootout.

Boston had opened a 5-3 lead on Vinni Lettieri's first goal of the season 11:23 into the third period. Jeremy Swayman made 39 saves for the Bruins. Ottawa Senators' Brady Tkachuk (7) and Boston ...

New York Rangers superstar goalie Igor Shesterkin charged straight into a melee during the third period of the Rangers' 5-0 win over the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday.