Bruins defenseman Drew Fata hammered home the game-winning slap shot midway through the third period and Tim Thomas made 35 saves in a 2-1 win over the Ottawa Senators at Scotiabank Place Friday night. Rookie forward Brad Marchand tallied a power play strike in the first period to round out the scoring for the B's, and Milan Lucic engaged in a bloody fight with Sens tough guy Chris Neil during a preseason game that had a little bit of everything. Boston plays their final preseason game on Saturday night at TD Garden against the Columbus Blue Jackets.

NEW YORK -- The Red Sox believe they might have avoided something of a disaster, as the line drive that hit off the inside of pitcher Jon Lester's right knee appears to have caught enough muscle that it did not result in any fracture.
 
"We dodged a big bullet there," said Sox outfielder Jason Bay.
 
The pitcher crumpled to the ground and remained down, moaning in pain, after the injury. Sox medical staff raced to the mound to check on the pitcher.
 
Red Sox manager Terry Francona and Lester both suggested that the left-hander might be able to stay on turn in his next start. The Sox medical staff was sufficiently satisfied witht the pitcher's range of motion and response to the injury that not tests beyond the initial X-rays (which proved negative) were required. The injury is described as a contusion of the right quadriceps.
 
Naturally, the Sox feared for the worst, and so they were...