Phaneuf scores in OT as Senators tie series against Bruins

Associated Press

OTTAWA, Ontario (AP) – Dion Phaneuf waited a long time for this moment.

Phaneuf set up two goals before scoring at 1:59 of overtime and the Ottawa Senators rallied past the Boston Bruins 4-3 on Saturday

The Senators tied their Eastern Conference quarterfinal series 1-1 and Game 3 is Monday night in Boston.

Phaneuf, a 12-year veteran, scored the winner from the point as Alex Burrows provided a screen.

"It feels great to do it here in front of our fans, it's just incredible," Phaneuf said. "I've played a long time and this is my first overtime winner and it feels great. I tried to get as much on it and luckily it found a way through."

Clarke MacArthur, Chris Wideman and Derick Brassard also scored for the Senators and Craig Anderson made 26 saves.

Drew Stafford, Tim Schaller and Patrice Bergeron scored for the Bruins. Tuukka Rask stopped 25 shots.

The Senators had rallied from a 3-1 deficit with a two-goal third period to force overtime.

Ottawa scored twice in a span of 2:20 to tie the game.

"It's disappointing. Generally we're pretty good at closing out games," Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy said.

Wideman made it 3-2 with a shot from the point and Brassard, off a great pass from Erik Karlsson, tied the game at 7:48 on a one-timer.

"The second period we didn't really come out the way that we wanted and we needed a response and I think that we definitely gave them that in the third," Karlsson said.

"That's the way that we're going to have to play if we're going to beat these guys. They're not going to give up. They're a good team even if though they're battling some injuries.

"It was definitely nice that we responded the way that we did."

The Bruins anticipated a push back from the Senators, but were disappointed at letting the two-goal lead slip away.

"You don't want to put your foot off the gas there, you want to keep at it and not really change anything," Stafford said.

"For the most part I don't think we really did, they just capitalized on a point shot, a seeing-eye shot and a little bit of a breakdown and they were able to get it through. They capitalized on their chances."

A goalie gaffe and bad penalties left the Senators trailing 3-1 after 40 minutes.

Viktor Stalberg blocked a shot, but the rebound went right to Stafford, who hammered it past Anderson to open the scoring at 9:47 of the second.

The Senators challenged the goal believing the play was offside, but a lengthy review upheld the goal.

MacArthur tied it on the power play with his first goal since April 19, 2015.

MacArthur, who battled back after suffering a devastating concussion in training camp and wasn't expected to play this season, raised his arms to the sky in celebration as the crowd went wild.

"It was just a great feeling," MacArthur said. "You know everyone wanted me to get one too is what it felt like.

"The whole city's kind of been having to listen to me the last couple of years trying to make comebacks and what-not and to get that ovation was just, wow, probably be the best moment I have in hockey."

Reaction from the Senators bench was just as good as the crowd's as MacArthur is respected from teammates and coaches alike.

"When he raised his arms I think the whole city did at the same time," Senators coach Guy Boucher said.

"It was very special, one of the most special moments I've lived as a coach because it's everybody in the rink, the players and the organization celebrating something that must have been very tough to live all year and it comes at a perfect time."

Boston retook the lead when Anderson misplayed the puck with Dominic Moore bearing down, allowing Schaller to score short-handed over a sprawled Anderson at 12:39.

The Bruins took a 3-1 lead late in the period with a power-play goal as Bergeron tipped David Pastrnak's shot.

Boston lost yet another defenseman as Adam McQuaid left midway through the first period with an upper-body injury and is day to day.

The Senators were also down to five defensemen as Mark Borowiecki left the game after going hard into the boards midway through the period.

Borowiecki is listed day to day and will travel with the team to Boston.

Ottawa had Marc Methot back in the lineup for the first time since suffering a laceration to his pinky finger on March 23.

The Bruins were already down to their ninth defenseman on the depth chart as Joe Morrow was in for an injured Colin Miller.

NOTES: After playing Game 1, C Tommy Wingels was out for Game 2 along with veterans C Chris Kelly and RW Chris Neil as well as D Fredrik Claesson. ... The Bruins remain without C David Krejci. Miller joined the list of injured defensemen with Torey Krug and Brandon Carlo.