Capitals 2, Senators 1
Nicklas Backstrom scored a power-play goal late in the second period and Braden Holby made 38 saves as host Washington won its third straight and extended its season-best point streak to nine games (7-0-2).
Jay Beagle recorded his career-high fifth tally and defenseman Mike Green notched a pair of assists for the second time in three contests for the Capitals, who snapped their seven-game skid versus Ottawa. Holtby turned aside 15 shots in the third period to improve to 12-3-3 in his last 18 starts.
Erik Condra scored for the second straight contest for the Senators, who have dropped two in a row and fell to 3-3-1 since Dave Cameron replaced Paul MacLean as coach. Craig Anderson made 21 saves in falling to 11-6-1 in his career against Washington.
With Ottawa defenseman Eric Gryba serving a holding penalty, Backstrom sized up his options before wristing a shot from high in the right faceoff circle that beat Anderson over his glove with 35 seconds remaining in the second period to give the Capitals a 2-1 lead. Backstrom has collected six goals and two assists in his last four games.
Evgeny Kuznetsov sent the puck up ice and Beagle outskated Senators defenseman Jared Cowen before beating Anderson with 6:01 left in the second to open the scoring. Condra answered two minutes later, stripping the puck from Green before skating in and wristing a shot past Holtby.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Ottawa captain Erik Karlsson saw his eight-game point streak in the series come to an end. He collected two goals and 10 assists during the run. ... Beagle had scored four goals in both the 2011-12 and 2013-14 seasons. ... Green has recorded one goal and four assists during his three-game point streak.