First period quick hits:

If this is what’s deemed as “the biggest game” of Ottawa’s season, the message didn’t trickle down to the Senators’ locker room. After David Pastrnak tripped up Eric Gryba, the Senators, behind their home crowd, went on the power play just a 1:59 into the game. Essentially, the ideal situation to seize momentum with an early goal and get the home building rocking. In the biggest game of the season, Ottawa didn’t muster one single shot-on-goal during the early five-on-four man advantage.

A little less than 10-minutes, Pastrnak once again returned to the sin bin for two minutes after covering the puck up with his hand, sending the Senators on their second PP of the night. This time, the Sens fired one quality shot on Tuukka Rask, but the best scoring chance belonged to Brad Marchand, who, for the second straight game, found himself on the receiving end of a clear breakaway opportunity but goaltender Craig Anderson steered the five hole opportunity aside.

During the final five minutes of the period, the Senators started to generate significant offensive zone time. Overall, a sloppy first period of hockey between two teams fighting for their playoff lives. I’m sure head coaches Claude Julien and Dave Cameron will have a few choice expletives added into their intermission speeches.

First Period Notes:

• Senators-Bruins tied with 8 SOG’s
• Senators winning the physical battle, lead with 12 hits total
• Senators won the battle in the dots, winning 12 of 19 face offs
• Bruins lead the turnover battle, only surrendering one to the Sens’ 4
• Bruins have yet to receive a power play opportunity while the Senators are 0-for-2 for only one shot on goal