Ottawa Senators score victory over New Jersey Devils

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SENATORS 3, DEVILS 2

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This night was about redemption for the Ottawa Senators.

Mission accomplished.

The Senators halted their two-game losing streak and inched closer to a National Hockey League playoff spot for the first time in eight years with a 3-2 victory over the New Jersey Devils on Saturday night at the Prudential Center.

The Senators needed to take care of business. Coming off an ugly 5-1 loss to the Colorado Avalanche on Thursday at home, they had to have a better effort in this one with just 14 games left in the regular season.

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David Perron, Drake Batherson and Brady Tkachuk did the scoring as the Senators closed out their season series against the Devils with a 3-1-0 record.

“We came out in the first two periods and we didn’t give them anything,” defenceman Thomas Chabot, who was suiting up for No. 500 of his career, told TSN 1200’s Gord Wilson. “They’re a big off-the-rush team and we didn’t give them a whole lot.

“Teams are going to push in the third period and we didn’t give them much. That’s what matters. The games are going to be like that all the way until the end.”

There were a few nervous moments when Eric Haula pulled the Devils to within a goal by scoring with 23.4 seconds left in the third period. The play was reviewed for a high stick but was a good goal.

Then the Devils missed another tremendous chance with just six seconds left.

This marks only the fourth time in franchise history the Senators have posted a 2-0 record in New Jersey during a season, and it’s the first time it has happened since 2016-17.

The Senators also moved their overall record to 8-1-2 in March, which is why they’re in the playoff race in the NHL’s Eastern Conference.

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The win couldn’t have come at a better time because the Senators can’t afford any prolonged losing streaks.

There was concern in the first period, though, when Tkachuk left the ice and appeared to be in discomfort. He returned in the second period and took a regular shift, but then had limited time in the third period.

He told reporters on Wednesday that he was 100 per cent, but head coach Travis Green stated 10 days ago that Tkachuk was dealing with a bit of hip ailment.

SHUFFLE THE DECK

The Senators made changes up front to create some offence

Green shook up his line combinations by moving newcomer Fabian Zetterlund to the right side of the top unit with Tkachuk and centre Tim Stutzle.

Veteran Claude Giroux was moved to play with Shane Pinto and Ridly Greig. The only trio that stayed intact was Dylan Cozens between David Perron and Batherson.

Green got the results he wanted on Saturday, with the Senators pushing the pace and creating scoring chances.

“We played the way wanted and played to our identity,” Giroux said.”We had everybody going. It wasn’t our best game but we played well enough to get the win.”

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Ottawa tested New Jersey goalie Jake Allen and made life difficult for him.

Perron, one of the Senators’ most consistent performers in March with five goals and three assists for eight points in 11 games, tipped a shot by Giroux for a power-play goal at 8:44 of the second period to restore a two-goal lead for Ottawa, at 3-1.

QUICK-STRIKE OFFENCE

Two goals in 33 seconds gave the Senators a 2-0 lead early in the second period, causing New Jersey coach Sheldon Keefe to call a timeout.

Nico Hischier responded, pull the Devils to within a goal at 7:13 of the second on the power play.

Batherson reached the 20-goal mark for the third consecutive season when he redirected a pass from Dylan Cozens past Allen at 4:36. That came only moments after Tkachuk went to the front of the net to tip one home.

Zetterlund made a good play on Tkachuk’s opening goal.

The Senators and Devils played to a scoreless tie in the first, but they traded chances. The Senators were in much better shape than they had been after 20 minutes against Colorado, when they trailed 4-1, and that was a step in the right direction.

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Former Senators winger Curtis Lazar was stopped by Ullmark on a short-handed breakaway in the first period. Then Lazer stopped Giroux from depositing a loose puck into an empty net seconds later.

LINUS RETURNS

Pulled after allowing four goals on 13 shots versus the Avalanche, Ullmark had a chance to get his game back together.

It was his 12th start in 13 games since his return from the 4 Nations Face-Off. Ullmark went into this game with a 6-4-1 record in his past 11 starts along with a 3.55 goals-against average and an .892 save percentage.

Ullmark had no chance on the one-timer by Hischier, but he returned to form and that was what the Senators needed. He must show that he can handle the workload and that he can be elite.

He was solid on both fronts in this one, but he also was helped with a strong effort by the teammates in front of him.

“You know when you’re up two goals the other team is going to push and they’re going to push hard and he made some big saves,” Green said.

bgarrioch@postmedia.com

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