BOSTON — Dennis Seidenberg wound up and stepped into a slap shot from center ice, hoping just to get the puck deep into Ottawa’s zone or maybe generate a quick rebound.

Seidenberg was as surprised as anyone else to see the puck skip off the ice, then get past Senators goalie Craig Anderson for the tiebreaking goal with 12:51 left as the Boston Bruins rallied for a 4-3 win Tuesday night.

“I don’t know if it was a lucky bounce or the way it came off of my stick,” Seidenberg said. “It just seemed to bounce off the ice and kind of was rising up, and it was tough to read I guess for him and somehow it went in.”

“Somehow” was just fine with the Bruins, who had allowed 10 goals in their previous two games and were badly outplayed in the second period Tuesday night, falling behind 3-1 before Milan Lucic’s goal with 45 seconds left in the period got Boston within one.

Brad Marchand pounced on a rebound and tied it early in the third, then Seidenberg stunned everybody in the building.

“It took a one-bouncer and it hit my stick and went in,” Anderson said. “Just one of those things where I’ve got to make the save, but at the same time it took a crazy bounce.”

Zdeno Chara had a power-play goal and an assist, and Joe Corvo assisted twice as Boston defensemen totaled six points in the game.

Ottawa had a chance to pull within two points of the Bruins for the Northeast Division lead. Instead, Boston won its 11th straight over a division opponent and is just one point behind the New York Rangers for the Eastern Conference lead.

Tim Thomas, who made 30 saves, was welcomed with his usual warm greeting during introductions in his first home game since he sat out the Bruins’ visit to the White House last week, saying he believes the federal government “has grown out of control.”

If any fans were upset with Thomas’ political statement, it didn’t show.

“I just saw them cheering him,” Boston Coach Claude Julien said. “Everybody was probably waiting to see what the reaction was going to be, so it was pretty clear that they still respect him for his hockey skills, and they certainly are not holding anything against him for his view on the rest.”

DUCKS 4, COYOTES 1: Andrew Cogliano scored three third-period goals as Anaheim beat host Phoenix.

DEVILS 4, RANGERS 3: David Clarkson scored the tying goal in the final minute of regulation, and Ilya Kovalchuk netted the only goal in the shootout as host New Jersey broke a three-game losing streak.

PENGUINS 5, MAPLE LEAFS 4: Evgeni Malkin tied the game with six seconds left in regulation and then scored the lone shootout goal to lift host Pittsburgh to its eighth straight win.

SABRES 3, CANADIENS 1: Paul Gaustad had a goal and two assists to lead Buffalo at Montreal.

PREDATORS 5, WILD 4: Mike Fisher scored two of Nashville’s three goals in the last 31/2 minutes and the Predators stunned host Minnesota for their fifth straight victory.

LIGHTNING 4, CAPITALS 3: Steven Stamkos scored his 33rd goal at 2:45 of overtime, giving Tampa Bay a win at home.

JETS 2, FLYERS 1: Bryan Little had the only goal during a shootout, lifting visiting Winnipeg.

NOTES

Pittsburgh Penguins star Sidney Crosby is suffering from a soft tissue injury in his neck that could lead to neurological problems.