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After three straight losses, the Devils fell from 4th in the Eastern Conference to 7th in the Conference. With that said, they have a golden opportunity to rise back up in the standings tomorrow when they take on the Boston Bruins. Here are some notes on that, Eric Gelinas’ great season in Albany and more.

- Though the Devils have lost three straight games and fallen three spots in the standings, they can just as easily pass the teams that passed them – Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and Ottawa – with a couple wins of their own. The difference between 7th place, and facing the Bruins in the 1st round of the playoffs, and 4th place, having home ice for at least one playoff round, is only three points. Depending on what other teams do the Devils could be as high as 5th in the conference with a win. That’s why tomorrow’s game against the Bruins means so much.

With that said, the Bruins lost last night against the Ottawa Senators so you can bet they’ll be hungry for a win tomorrow. New Jersey will certainly need to bring their ‘A’ game and most importantly: shoot the puck.

- Devils prospect Eric Gelinas, who is in his first season of professional hockey, leads the AHL in goals by defenseman with 12. He’s been playing fantastic hockey all season long, according to reports, and his season really reminds me of what Adam Henrique did in Albany last year. Obviously they’re different positions but you get my point. Considering what Gelinas has done this year at both ends of the rink I think he has passed Alexander Urbom as the best Devils defensive prospect in Albany.

- It was nice to see Lou Lamoriello remain loyal to Eric Boulton and keep him with the Devils after he cleared waivers on Monday. Lamoriello went out and offered him a two-year contract knowing full well what Boulton is capable of. Boulton has done what he was signed to do and it’s never nice to spend three quarters of your season playing your ass off for a team only to be sent to the AHL for the final stretch. Whether he plays a lot down the stretch or is just used in rivalry games remains to be seen, but I’m happy he has been given the opportunity to stay with the big club.

- Marek Zidlicky will have his first full practice with the Devils today. Those hacking him for not producing in his first two games should probably take in the fact that he didn’t practice with New Jersey before any of the games. You can’t be traded to a team with a completely different system and produce at a high level right away. Just ask Ilya Kovalchuk.

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OTTAWA – Alex Auld did all he could, but the shadow of Craig Anderson loomed too large over the Ottawa Senators.

Auld made 37 saves in a 5-3 loss to the Boston Bruins on Saturday. It was Ottawa’s first game without starter Anderson, who is out indefinitely after cutting his hand Wednesday night, and it was evident the team wasn’t sure how to deal with the change in goal.

Auld is the likely candidate to take over in goal during Anderson’s absence and while he looked nervous to start the game he got better as time wore on.

“I felt good, but it wasn’t enough,” said Auld. “I think it’s a good step. I think obviously I can just worry about myself and the way I play and the way I prepare.

“I felt good in the game and it was nice to see a lot of shots, it’s probably the most I’ve had all year, but you also play to win and you want to win games against teams you’re chasing.”

Trailing 4-1 midway through the third things looked all but over for Ottawa, but Sens captain Daniel Alfredsson scored twice less than two minutes apart with just over two minutes remaining to make it a one-goal game.

The Senators desperately battled for the equalizer, but Patrice Bergeron, with his second of the night, scored into an empty net to secure the victory for the Bruins.

Brad Marchand, Carter Camper and David Krejci also scored for Boston (37-20-3), which moved five points ahead of the Senators in the Northeast Division with three games in hand.

Tim Thomas stopped 27 shots to extend his unbeaten streak at Scotiabank Place to nine games.

Erik Karlsson also scored for Ottawa (32-23-8), which had their four-game win streak snapped. Jason Spezza picked up his 600th career point on Alfredsson’s first goal.

“We put a good push in the third period, but obviously the first two periods we’re not too pleased,” said Alfredsson.

“Credit to them for playing real solid. I didn’t think we moved the puck quick enough and therefore we couldn’t get them back in their end and so we were forced to play a lot of time in our own end and it’s tough to get goals that way.”

Karlsson opened the scoring at 1:10 of the first with his 14th goal of the season. But Boston countered with Bergeron’s first of the game at 3:36 before Marchand put the Bruins ahead 2-1 at 16:13 with his 22nd goal of the season.

“We got the start we were looking for, but then they score pretty quick after I lose a battle in our end and then they get a rebound and score,” said Alfredsson. “If we can hold on there maybe we can get our legs going, but that kind of gave them some momentum.”

Camper made it 3-1 for Boston with his first goal of the season at 3:57 of the second before Krejci put Boston ahead 4-1 on the power play at 10:24 of the third.

“I was really pleased with the way we played in the second,” said Boston’s Zdeno Chara. “Usually we don’t have such a good second period, but (Saturday) we had a really strong one.”

Chara and Ottawa’s Chris Neil fought midway through the third as Chara defended teammate Johnny Boychuk, who had the wind knocked out of him after being hit by Neil earlier in the period.

“He made a really nice big hit, it was clean, and that’s part of the game, but also part of the game is sticking up for teammates and doing what you have to do,” said Chara. “He didn’t need to fight me, but I appreciate it.”

The two teams meet again Tuesday in Boston.

NOTES: The Senators were minus Anderson, centres Peter Regin (shoulder, out for season) and Jesse Winchester (concussion, indefinite). Defenseman Brian Lee and centre Zenon Konopka were both a healthy scratch. The Bruins were without centre Marc Savard (post-concussion syndrome, indefinite), right-winger Nathan Horton (concussion, indefinite) and centre Rich Peverley (knee, four-to-six weeks) and left-winger Shawn Thornton (sick, day-to-day). Defenseman Andrew Bodnarchuk was a healthy scratch.

OTTAWA – Ottawa Senators goalie Craig Anderson is out indefinitely with a hand injury.

The Senators say Anderson accidentally cut his right hand while preparing a meal Thursday.

He was treated in hospital and is expected to make a full recovery.

The 30-year-old Anderson has appeared in 56 games this season, posting a 2.85 goals-against average and 29-19-6 record.

The Senators host the Boston Bruins on Saturday before the New York Islanders come to town Sunday.

Anderson is not the only athlete to miss time because of an off-ice injury.

Last month, L.A. Kings forward Dustin Penner sat out a game after suffering back spasms while eating pancakes.

In baseball, former Toronto Blue Jays reliever Brian Tallet missed 10 weeks last season after hurting his ribcage following a hard sneeze.