By Joe Haggerty
CSNNE.com
BOSTONThe Bruins ended their home regular season schedule on a high note with the playoffs looming largely on their minds. Daniel Paille and Nathan Horton provided the requisite offense and the Bs put in a good days work for a 3-1 victory over the scrappy Senators during a surprisingly gritty game at TD Garden.That gave the Bs five wins in six meetings with the Senators this season, and sets up Sundays regular season finale on the road against the New Jersey Devils.The Bruins and Sens traded goals in the first period as Paille rifled home his fourth goal in the last eight games, and continued a torrid stretch to open up scoring for the Black and Gold. Marlboro native Bobby Butler snapped home a loose puck in front for his 10th goal of the season in his first NHL game at his hometown TD Garden rink to tie things up, but that was it for Ottawa.Nathan Horton scored on the power play with a backhanded strike little more than a minute into the second period. He followed that up with a spirited fight against Zack Smith that saw all manner of haymakers getting tossed at each other. The rest was up to Tim Thomas and the Bs defensive crew that was up to the task.Thomas made 31 saves on the day and finished with a .9381 save percentage for the seasona mark that sets a new modern day NHL record previously held by Dominik Hasek during his Dominator years with the Buffalo Sabres.Rich Peverley added his 17th goal of the season in the third period with a sweet, swooping backhanded shot from the slot area that proved to be the insurance marker for the Black and Gold.
Joe Haggerty can be reached at jhaggerty@comcastsportsnet.com. Follow Joe on Twitter at http:twitter.comHackswithHaggs