For the 2010 to 2011 season, justSports has been given a press pass to attend Boston Bruins home games. We will cover these games periodically throughout the year.
Last Saturday, the Bruins played their final home game of the season against the Ottawa Senators. Despite sloppy puck handling and several missed opportunities, the Bruins held on to win 3-1.After defeating the New York Islanders earlier in the week and dropping a meaningless season finale at the New Jersey Devils, the Bruins finished the season 46-25-11, good for third place in the Eastern Conference.

The Bruins will take on the Montreal Canadiens in the first round of the playoffs, beginning with game one on Thursday.

After allowing just one goal against the Senators and sitting out the season finale, Bruins goalie Tim Thomas finished the season with a .938 save percentage, which is an NHL record. Dominic Hasek previously held the record with a .937 save percentage, which he set as a member of the Buffalo Sabres during the 1998-1999 season.

With 12:53 left in the first period against the Senators, the Bruins scored their first goal. A rebound off a shot by left wing Shawn Thornton was grabbed by center Gregory Campbell, who found left wing Daniel Paille at the edge of the crease. Paille was able to redirect the puck in for his sixth goal of the season and fourth game in a row with at least 1 point.

Paille said that he has been happy with the fourth line's production as of late.

"Right now, [the fourth line] is scoring, and it's definitely helping," he said. "But the top three lines have been scoring all year for us. Once we get everyone on track, I think we'll be a great team."

With 1:33 left in the first, Thomas pushed too far out of the goal to contest a shot from Senators right wing Bobby Butler. Butler was able to scoop up his own rebound and easily flicked the puck into the back of the net.

Just 1:02 into the second period Senators right wing Ryan Shannon received a double-minor penalty for high sticking that put him in the penalty box for 4 minutes. The Bruins were able to capitalize on the one-man advantage as Bruins right wing Nathan Horton skated around the goalie and drilled a shot into the net. Bruins defenseman Zdeno Chara and forward Milan Lucic were given the assists on the play.

Later in the second period, Bruins left wing Mark Recchi earned applause from the audience for simply entering the game. He entered his 1,652nd career NHL game, passing Chris Chelios for fourth on the all-time list.

The Bruins entered the third period with a 2-1 lead, a situation in which the team has been very successful all season. The Bruins entered the game with a 29-2-2 record when leading after the second period, and the team didn't disappoint in its home finale. Boston was able to hold on to the lead in the final period and even tacked on an additional goal for insurance.

With 14:52 left in the third period, Bruins center Rick Peverley skated around the defenseman and scored unassisted.

Bruins coach Claude Julien was happy with the team's performance in the home finale.

"I think it was important for us to finish on a positive note," he said. "A lot of good things came out of today's win."

Last Wednesday, Thornton returned for the first time since suffering a facial laceration against the Chicago Blackhawks on March 29. After finally getting the nod to play against the Islanders, Thornton provided the necessary spark to lead the Bruins to a 3-2 victory.

In the closing seconds of an otherwise uneventful first period, Boston tallied its first score when Paille flipped a rebounded puck to Thornton, who fired it into an empty net.

Thornton just narrowly beat the first intermission horn, scoring a rare buzzer-beater goal with just 1/10 of a second left on the clock. The officials reviewed the play for several minutes, but the goal was eventually confirmed, giving the Bruins the momentum heading into the locker room for the first intermission.

"Well, I knew when we got out there, there was about 30 seconds, so I knew there wasn't much time," Paille said of the goal. "When we looked at the clock I couldn't believe it didn't go off even that quick, so it was great to get that right before the buzzer."

After a tripping call on Bruins defenseman Tomas Kaberle 2:08 into the second period, the Islanders were able to capitalize on the power play by tying the game on a goal by rookie right wing Michael Grabner. It was Grabner's 32nd goal this season, which leads all rookies.

Boston responded just 4 1/2 minutes later when defenseman Dennis Seidenberg fired the puck through Islanders goalie Rick DiPietro's legs for his seventh goal of the season.

Campbell scored his 13th goal of the season and the eventual game winner 9:09 into the period to put the Bruins up 3-1. Grabner would add a shorthanded goal for the Islanders 14:26 into the second period, but Thomas was able shut down New York in the third period to earn Boston the victory.

"It wasn't the kind of game you want to see from your team," said Julien. "I think the execution wasn't very good tonight. We weren't very sharp. Our best players certainly didn't make a difference and who made a difference was our fourth line, the Campbell line and the goaltender, who made some good saves for us."

The Bruins also presented its club awards for the season prior to the game.

The Eddie Shore Award for exceptional hustle and determination was awarded to Thornton.

Thomas received the Elizabeth Dufresne Trophy for outstanding performance during home games.

Defensemen Andrew Ference was awarded the John P. Bucyk Award for off-ice charitable contributions.

The Three Stars Awards were presented to Thomas, center Patrice Bergeron and Lucic.