Senators hand Bruins second straight loss

BOSTON (AP) -- The Ottawa Senators have completely turned things around since their last visit to Boston.

Todd White scored short-handed and added an assist to key Ottawa's four-goal second period Thursday night as the Senators sent the Boston Bruins to consecutive losses for the first time this season with a 5-2 victory.

The Senators were embarrassed in Boston on Nov. 9, dropping a 7-1 decision to the Bruins. Since that night, they have gone 11-1-3.

"I think it woke us up,'' White said of the humiliating loss. "We had been playing pretty inconsistently up until that point. We're playing pretty solid. We've obviously had a good roll.''

The Senators moved within six points of the Northeast Division-leading Bruins, and have lost just once in 11 games (8-1-2). Boston was beaten by Montreal at home on Tuesday.

Shaun Van Allen, Chris Neil, Anton Volchenkov and Marian Hossa also scored for Ottawa. Mike Knuble and Joe Thornton had Boston's goals.

"We were embarrassed the last time we were in here,'' Neil said. "We're on a pretty good streak right now. Even the game we lost we could have won.''

The Senators' only loss during the recent stretch was a 1-0 setback at Chicago on Dec. 4.

The Bruins, though, are going the other way lately, having dropped three of their last five games at the nearly-always-half-empty FleetCenter.

"We were a surprise to start the season,'' Knuble said. "Other teams are watching us a lot closer and taking away our options.''

Neil got a loose puck at the left circle, spun and fired a wrist shot between Steve Shields' pads to move the Senators ahead 2-1 with 3:59 left in the opening period.

White scored off the rebound of Zdeno Chara's shot after the puck trickled away from Shields, making it 3-1 at 5:07 of the second period for Ottawa's first short-handed goal of the season. Volchenkov backhanded in his own rebound to increase the lead to 4-1.

Hossa converted his own rebound in front for his team-leading 19th goal with just 24 seconds left in the period, prompting boos. After the his next save, Shields was given a mock cheer.

That was more than enough for Ottawa goaltender Patrick Lalime, sharp in making 29 saves.

"He didn't get a lot of support,'' Boston coach Robbie Ftorek said of Shields. "We didn't play as well as a team as they did. We were not on the top of things right now. They were on top.''

Thornton's goal came with 9:15 left.

Knuble and Van Allen scored in the opening period.

Game notes
The Bruins were showered with boos when they left the ice after the second period. ... It was just Boston's fourth loss of the season at home (11-4-1) and only the sixth overall. ... The Senators entered with the league's second-best power play, but were held scoreless in two chances. ... The teams are 1-1-1 in the season series, with one game left in Ottawa on March 11. ... Boston LW Michal Grosek strained a muscle in his side in the second period and did not return.