Penguins 5, Senators 3
OTTAWA -- Two third-period goals by Carl Hagelin helped the Pittsburgh Penguins erase an early 3-0 deficit en route to a 5-3 victory over the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday night at Canadian Tire Centre.
The victory was the seventh in a row for the Penguins (47-25-8), who are trying to stay ahead of the New York Rangers for second place in the Metropolitan Division.
It was the second straight loss for the Senators (36-35-9), who were mathematically eliminated from the playoff race.
Hagelin scored the winner with 5:57 left in regulation time, taking a pass from Nick Bonino and sliding a backhand along the ice just inside the far post past Andrew Hammond.
The Penguins finished digging their way out of a three-goal hole at the 4:19 mark of the third period when Bonino accepted a turnover by Mike Hoffman behind the Senators net and pass the puck out front to Hagelin, whose backhand beat Hammond, just inside the far post.
Sidney Crosby also scored twice for the Penguins, the second into an empty net with 6.3 seconds left, and Patric Hornqvist had the other.
Erik Karlsson, Hoffman and Zack Smith had the Senators goals.
Penguins goalie Matt Murray made 27 saves while Andrew Hammond stopped 24 shots in the Senators net.
The Senators, who have the worst home ice power -numbers in the league, failed to take advantage of a 5-on-3 advantage for 1:32 after Hagelin's first goal.
NOTES: Senators RW Buddy Robinson became the eighth player in the organization to make his NHL debut this season. Robinson, signed as a free agent out of Lake Superior State University, is in the third and final year of his entry-level contract with Ottawa. ... Senators D Marc Methot left the morning skate with an undisclosed injury, forcing the recall of Senators D Ben Harpur. ... While Penguins C Evgeni Malkin remains out with an upper-body injury, the second line has not suffered. Heading into Tuesday, RW Phil Kessel, C Nick Bonino and LW Carl Hagelin had combined for 35 points, including 14 goals, in 12 games. Pittsburgh was 11-1 in its first 12 games without Malkin. ... Penguins D Derrick Pouliot was scratched and D Brian Dumoulin took his spot in the lineup. ... Senators coach Dave Cameron was named to Team Canada's staff for the 2016 Ice Hockey World Championship from May 6 to May 22 in Moscow and St. Petersburg, Russia. Cameron and former Minnesota Wild coach Mike Yeo will be assistants to Carolina Hurricanes coach Bill Peters.