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3 months ago: Boston Bruins' Michael Ryder, right, celebrates his goal in the shootout against the Ottawa Senators in an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Nov. 28, 2009, in Boston. The Bruins won 4-3. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)

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For the third straight game and the 11th time this season, the Bruins found themselves in an overtime game. The Bruins held a 3-2 lead late in the third period after Dennis Wideman's power play goal midway through the third period put them on top, but the Bruins weren't able to hold on for the win as Milan Michalek's goal with 19.2 seconds remaining in regulation forced overtime. The game eventually went to a shootout, where the B's prevailed thanks to a goal by Michael Ryder and some big saves by Tim Thomas, who redeemed himself after giving up a soft goal to Michalek late in the third period.

The Senators struck first on their first shot of the game 4:52 into the game when the Bruins turned over the puck in the defensive zone and Milan Michalek fed the puck to Daniel Alfredsson, who fired a quick snap shot from the slot that beat Tim Thomas.

The Senators added a power play goal by Milan Michalek two and a half minutes later. With Marc Savard in the box for high-sticking, Patrice Bergeron lost an edge and took a shot off his leg while he was sprawled on the ice essentially creating a 5 on 3 for Ottawa. Daniel Alfredsson "set up in Gretzky's Office" and found Michalek on the right wing side of the Thomas' net and Michalek's tough angle shot found the back of the net for the 2-0 lead while Bergeron limped to the bench without putting weight on the leg. Bergeron tried to give it a go his next shift but quickly returned to the Bruins bench and headed down the tunnel to the dressing room. He was able return to the Bruins bench late in the first period and played the rest of the game.

Despite only putting 5 shots on goal in the first period, Ottawa skated off the ice after the first 20 minutes of play with a 2-0 lead.

The Bruins cut the lead to 2-1 with a power play goal by David Krejci 59 seconds into the second period. Mark Recchi lugged the puck into the Ottawa zone on the left wing and sent a centering pass to David Krejci, who skated right down the middle of the ice and beat Brian Elliott with a backhander up high.

The Bruins tied it up at 2-2 on a power play goal from Michael Ryder at 9:57 of the middle period. Zdeno Chara held the puck at the point and passed the puck to Michael Ryder at the left half-wall. Ryder skated into the slot and fired a quick snap shot that found the back of the net for his 7th goal of the season.

The Bruins got their third power play goal of the game with 10:41 remaining in the third period when we floated a wrist shot from the high slot that found its way past Elliott for the go-ahead goal with Mark Recchi providing the screen at the top of the crease.

Ottawa tied up the game with 19.2 second remaining when Milan Michalek's tough angle shot from the left circle skimmed off Tim Thomas' left pad and into the far side of the net for his second goal of the game.

After five minutes of scoreless overtime hockey, the game headed to a shootout.

Shootout

B's 1st Shooter: Bergeron skated in deep and lost control of the puck.

Sens 1st Shooter: Alex Kovalev faked a shot on the forehand and missed the net on the backhand.

B's 2nd Shooter: Blake Wheeler fired a forehand shot that was handled by Elliot.

Sens 2nd Shooter: Right pad kick out by Tim Thomas

B's 3rd Shooter: Krejci's backhander hits the post.

Sens 4th Shooter: Jason Spezza's shot missed the net

B's 4th Shooter: Michael Ryder's fired a shot that beat Brian Elliott up high on the gloveside. 1-0 Bruins

Sens 4th Shooter: Thomas shutdown Mike Fisher with a left pad save to seal the win for the B's. Bruins Win

Notes:

- The win gives the Bruins sole possession of first place in the Northeast Division.

- The Bruins set a franchise record by going to the shootout for the third straight game.

- The Bruins out-shot the Senators 33-22.

- The Bruins went 3 for 5 on the power play. This was only the fourth time this season that the Bruins scored 2 or more power play goals.

- Tim Thomas (19 saves) looked a little rusty in his first game back from a hand injury, but played well enough to get the win and made some big stops in the shootout.

- Zdeno Chara and Steve Begin were the only Bruins skaters not to register a shot on goal.

- Mark Stuart blocked 4 shots

- Daniel Paille recorded 5 hits.

- The B's are off until Wednesday when the host the Tampa Bay Lightning at TD Garden.

3 Stars (as selected by 98.5 The Sports Hub)

1st Star: David Krejci (goal, assist, 56% on face-offs)

2nd Star: Daniel Alfredsson (goal, assist, +2)

3rd Star: Michael Ryder (regulation goal, game-winning shootout goal)