BOSTON (AP) -- A couple of goals, a couple of fights - it was a fitting
way to honor Terry O'Reilly.
Brian Rolston scored to tie it in the third period and Steve Shields
stopped 30 shots to remain unbeaten as the Boston Bruins celebrated
Terry O'Reilly Night by tying the Ottawa Senators 2-2 on Thursday.
Rolston scored on a wrist shot coming across the middle to help the
Bruins tie their home opener and move to 4-1-2. They have not lost
since falling 5-1 to Minnesota in the season opener.
Jason Spezza, the Senators' top prospect who was making his NHL debut,
made a nifty pass to assist in Ottawa's second goal. He fought off two
defenders to backhand the pass to Marian Hossa, and he beat Shields to
give Ottawa the lead 4:36 into the third.
"It's a step up, but I definitely think I can play here," Spezza said.
"It makes it easier knowing I'm playing with such good hockey players."
Patrick Lalime stopped 26 shots for Ottawa, which has not lost since a
3-1 defeat to New Jersey in its season opener.
The Bruins retired O'Reilly's No. 24 before the game with a ceremony in
which Ray Bourque called the former captain "the ultimate Bruin." Known
for his hard work and toughness more than his swiftness on skates,
O'Reilly is still the team's career leader with 2,095 penalty minutes.
So it was no surprise that a video montage of his career highlights was
heavy on fighting and less focused on goal-scoring; when it came time
for him to join the ceremony, he came out of the penalty box, so the
fans would recognize him.
"You were patient with me as I stumbled and slipped through my first
few years and through my last few years," he said. "I loved playing
hockey for you people and this will always be my home."
In the first, when Boston's Sean Brown and Ottawa's Dennis Bonvie
squared off to fight, the crowd chanted "Terry!" and the referees
seemed to give them extra time before breaking it up. Michal Grosek and
Wade Redden matched up in the second, but it was far from the
glove-throwing, over-the boards and into-the-stands anarchy that made
O'Reilly such a favorite of his fans and teammates.
"It was a rush seeing all the guys that were Bruins before us," said
Boston defenseman Hal Gill, who scored just 22 seconds into the game
when he lofted a shot from the blue line past Lalime. "You get chills."
Ottawa appeared to tie it with 14 seconds left in the first when Mike
Fisher kicked the puck in as he was pushed into the crease by Bruins
defenseman Don Sweeney. After a video review, the goal was disallowed.
"They went upstairs and they said it was kicked in. He didn't kick it
in. The puck hit him," Senators coach Jacques Martin said. "He was off
balance because he was getting tripped."
Shields' biggest save of the night came midway through the second when
he stopped Hossa on a breakaway. But the Senators made it 1-all on
Daniel Alfredsson's goal at 14:00 of the second.
Game notes
Phil Esposito was the only living Bruins player with his number retired
not to attend the pregame ceremony. He had a previous commitment. ...
Spezza was called up because Radek Bonk is out with a chest injury. ...
Bruins forward Sergei Samsonov missed his third consecutive game with
strained ligaments in his right wrist.