Thomas’s 47 Saves Lift Bruins by Senators

By KC Downey in Bruins, Featured, Top Story ⋅ December 14, 2011 at 11:19pm ⋅ Post a comment

Tim Thomas (Photo by Jana Chytilova/Freestyle Photography/Getty Images)

Tuukka Rask recorded the shutout for the Bruins Tuesday night. So, of course, Tim Thomas had to stand on his head the following night to prove he still deserves to be the starting goaltender.

Thomas finished with a season-high 47 saves, including 21 saves alone in the third period, to lead the Bruins to a 5-2 win over the Ottawa Senators.

Daniel Paille also stood tall, recovering from a recent concussion and broken nose to score two goals Wednesday night, both in the third, to give him five on the season.

Game Recap

Despite the lopsided final score, though, the game was tight through the first two periods.

Rich Peverley got the scoring started, tallying his sixth goal midway through the first. Ottawa’s Daniel Alfredsson scored the equalizer early in the second period.

Chris Kelly scored his 12th goal to break the tie at 13:47 of the second, and then the floodgates opened on Craig Anderson, who finished with just 24 saves on 29 shots.

Patrice Bergeron scored less then five minutes in, and Paille tallied his first goal just a minute later.

After Jason Spezza made it a 4-2 game, Paille buried the Senators with his fifth goal of the year with a few minutes left.

Game Notes

Adam McQuaid received a major penalty for kneeing and a game misconduct after he tripped Nick Foligno in the second period. McQuaid could be suspended for his “kitchen sink” move…
Former Senator Zdeno Chara did not suit up for the game. They have won two straight games without their captain in the lineup.
With the win, the Bruins vaulted ahead of Philadelphia to the top seed in the Eastern Conference.
As fate would have it, the Bruins next take on the Flyers on Saturday night.