OTTAWA, Ontario — In a matchup of teams fighting for position at the tail end of the Eastern Conference playoff structure, the Bruins dropped a 6-5 shootout decision to the Senators on Saturday at Canadian Tire Centre.

Tim Stutzle scored the only goal in the shootout and had a goal and an assist, Norris scored twice, and Merilainen made 23 saves for the Senators (23-18-4), who are 4-0-1 in their past five games.

BOSTON (AP) — Charlie Coyle scored a pair of third-period goals, stealing the spotlight from fellow Boston University product Macklin Celebrini in his first game back at the TD Garden as an NHLer and leading the Bruins to a 6-3 victory over San Jose on Monday.

It was the loosest defensive game the Ottawa Senators have played in weeks, but there was no denying the entertainment on Saturday afternoon at Canadian Tire Centre. Down 5-3 to the rival Boston Bruins with the goalie pulled,

Ottawa Senators' Brady Tkachuk (7) and Boston Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman (1) watch as the shot by Senators' Jake Sanderson, not shown, goes in the net during the second period of an NHL ...

David Pastrnak had a goal and two assists, Pavel Zacha and Morgan Geekie each had a goal and an assist, and Jeremy Swayman made 39 saves for the Bruins (22-19-6), who lost for the seventh time in nine games (2-5-2).

The Ottawa Senators are victors of back to back matchups over the weekend with travel. With those points earned, the Senators have climbed to first in the wild card playoff race and have bumped Boston out.

In a wildly entertaining and raucous game, the Bruins had their most emotional win of the season in their grasp only to cough up a two-goal lead late in the final 3:13 of regulation with the goalie pulled and lose in a shootoout, 6-5.

For all the drama that has entertained us halfway through this NHL season -- the Vancouver Canucks rifts, the Boston Bruins "rifts," the infuriating Buffalo Sab

Down 5-3 to the rival Boston Bruins with the goalie pulled, the Senators scored twice in the final four minutes to tie the game, then won it 6-5 in the shootout. The victory, for the time being, moves Ottawa into the first Wild Card position (WC1) in the Eastern Conference, now tied in points with Columbus and Boston.

The Senators' shootout win over the Bruins encapsulated everything we love about hockey — beautiful goals, crazy saves, an unbelievable comeback and even some fisticuffs. It was the sport at its purest and best.