You'd think Senators goalie Brian Elliott was cursed. Elliott has now played three games against Boston. He's lost all three by a score of 4-3 in the shoot-out. The guy couldn't get a break if he offered his salary in exchange.



The curse began on February 5, 2009 when the Boston Bruins visited Ottawa, and again, the Senators were leading 3-2 late in the third when Boston tied it up with a power play goal on the power play. Things didn't get resolved in overtime. PJ Axelsson was the hero for the Bruins that time, slipping a backhander through Elliott's pads in the shoot-out.

Then on October 24, the Bruins were trailing 3-1 with only 1:28 left on the clock, but still managed to score twice when they pulled their golatender, evening up the game with 21 seconds left in regulation. That time, Patrice Bergeron was the hero. Strangely enough, the same shooters were called upon for the shoot-out for the Sens as were last night with exactly the same results: Alex Kovalev and Daniel Alfredsson both missed the net, and Tim Thomas was able to stop Jason Spezza's attempt.

Last night, the tables were reversed with the Senators pulling as "Bruins" on the Bruins. I really really thought that things might change, but...

I have to admit he didn't have much help in front of him. The Sens were back to their bad old ways, showing up for the first 20 minutes, and somehow losing steam after that. The Senators wound up in the penalty box a lot and paid dearly for it, coughing up three power play goals to the Bruins. The PK squads, who had been so solid of late, allowed way too much room to their adversaries. The Bruins Ryder goal was especially telling. As soon as Ryder walked off the boards with the puck I was screaming at my TV, and sure enough...

The Sens, who had been all piss and vinegar of late, have totally lost steam. They benefitted from a power play in the last few minutes of the game, which could have made a lot of difference, but were being beaten to the pucks cleared into their zone. Truth be told, the Sens lost more battle than they won.

All was not bleak. Daniel Alfredsson was especially brilliant throughout the game. Alfie picked up a goal and an assist in the first, and robbed Mark Recchi of a goal when the net was totally open. Milan Michalek was also amazing for the Sens  picking up two goals and an assist, including the game-tieing goal that somehow found its way between Tim Thomas' pad with 20 seconds left to play. Surprise, surprise, Alexandre Picard also contributed big time to the offense, racking up two assists on the night. Brian Elliott was good overall, turning away 30 shots on goal. There was not much he could do on the ones that went in. Kerjci's first goal was a mini-breakaway when the Senators got beaten by sheer speed on the back check. Elliott was totally screene on both the Bruins' other goals.

Yes, the ice was awful. Yes, there were bad bounce. Yes, there was bad officiating (again). But you can't point to those things in the Senators loss. The Bruins wanted it more, plain and simple. This is one of the few occasions of late where the Senators didn't really deserve the point they got. This is not a good omen at the beginning of a road trip.