Ottawa at Boston

Ottawa opened its season Saturday with a 3-2 win at Toronto, settled in regulation, and Boston lost 4-1 at Minnesota that night, scoring once on the second night of a back-to-back. Boston's two wins this season were a 3-0 shutout of the Rangers and a 4-3 overtime win at Winnipeg. Tim Stützle and Thomas Chabot were both in Ottawa's opening lineup. Last season Boston finished a point ahead of Ottawa in the standings, 100 to 99, and the gap flatters the Bruins. Twelve of Boston's 45 wins were decided in overtime or a shootout, while six of Ottawa's 44 were. Regulation wins count only games won in the first 60 minutes, and Ottawa had 38 of them to Boston's 33. The Senators also scored 278 goals to Boston's 272 and allowed 246 to Boston's 250, a goal differential of +32 against +22, or +0.39 a game against +0.27. Ottawa is the right side on the moneyline tonight, and the team that wins more of the first 60 minutes should not need extra time to prove it.