Halak propels streaking Isles past reeling Senators
OTTAWA -- Jaroslav Halak made 31 saves as the New York Islanders continued to roll with a 2-1 victory over the Ottawa Senators at Canadian Tire Centre on Saturday night.
The Islanders (14-7-2) have now won six of their last seven, while the Senators (8-8-6) dropped their sixth in a row.
Anders Lee and Jordan Eberle each scored for the Islanders on Craig Anderson, who made 22 saves for Ottawa.
Matt Duchene scored his first with the Senators in response.
Eberle's goal, which gave New York a 2-0 lead at 14:10 of the third period, was off a redirection of a shot by Nick Leddy while standing in the slot. It was his ninth of the season.
Duchene, who was held without a point in his first eight games with the Senators, cut into the Islanders' lead when he slid a rebound past Halak's outstretched glove with the Senators on the power play at 15:39 of the third.
The Islanders broke a scoreless tie when Lee deflected a Josh Bailey point shot at 8:06 of the second period, just 26 seconds after Senators defenseman Johnny Oduya sat down in the box to serve a holding penalty.
It was Lee's 12th of the season.
The Senators led 16-15 in shots after two periods.
NOTES: Senators LW Zack Smith returned to the lineup after missing six games with a broken thumb. ... Senators D Thomas Chabot and F Nick Paul were scratched. ... Islanders scratches were D Dennis Seidenberg, D Ryan Pulock and LW Anthony Beauvillier. ... The Islanders return home to play two at home, on Tuesday versus the Vancouver Canucks and Friday against the Senators. ... The Senators play their next six on the road, starting with Wednesday's game in Montreal.