Boston Bruins vs. Ottawa Senators Predictions, Picks and Preview – 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs – Eastern Conference First Round Game Five – April 21, 2017
Given that they’re in a win-or-go-home situation, the Boston Bruins have no room for error in this game.
Each of the first four meetings of this playoff series could have gone either way, but ultimately, Boston’s inability to deliver down the stretch has put the team in this dire situation: a 3-1 deficit.
Game 5 has to be a completely different story for the Bruins to extend their season.
Besides finishing stronger, the disappearing act of their most valuable player in Brad Marchand needs to stop. He’s been held in check—scoreless to be precise—since his game-winning goal in the opener. Marchand led Boston in points (85), goals (39) and helpers (46) in the regular season.
On defense, the Bruins will continue to lean on their veteran goalie Tuuka Rask, who saved 26 of 27 shots in the loss in Game 4. He carries a .913 saving percentage in the series overall.
The Ottawa Senators need to end this here. They should be ready to go for the kill and smash any hopes of an improbable comeback from Boston.
They’ve won three in a row, two in overtime, and the 2-1 loss in Game 1 is a good reminder for them to avoid any feelings of complacency. Look to captain Erik Karlsson and goalie Craig Anderson to continue their tremendous efforts.
Karlsson, despite playing hurt, has accounted for five of the Senators’ 10 goals in the series. Anderson, meanwhile, hasn’t been great but is making the right saves at the right time, like in Game 4 where he stopped 22 shots for his fourth-career playoff shutout. He went 13-5-2 with a .925 SV% and 2.18 GAA at home in the regular season.
