Senators defeat Rangers, snap five-game slide
OTTAWA -- The Ottawa Senators finally got back on the right track with a 3-2 victory over the New York Rangers on Wednesday night at Canadian Tire Centre.
The Senators stopped a five-game losing streak by earning only their second victory in 14 games (2-10-2).
Bobby Ryan, Cody Ceci and Zack Smith scored the Ottawa goals. Michael Grabner and Pavel Buchnevich replied for the Rangers.
Craig Anderson made 27 saves in the Senators net while Henrik Lundqvist stopped 27 shots for the Rangers.
Smith gave the Senators their first two-goal lead of the night eight seconds into the third period, parking in front of the net and banging in a pass from Tom Pyatt for his second of the season.
Buchnevich cut into the margin 4:32 later by taking a pass from Chris Kreider on a two-on-one and firing a shot behind Anderson before the goalie could get across his crease. It was Buchnevich's 11th of the campaign.
The Rangers erased a 1-0 deficit on a pretty goal at 3:57 of the second period. Mats Zuccarello set it up with a nice pass through Ryan's skates to Grabner, who slipped out of weak coverage by Erik Karlsson to tap the puck behind Anderson. The goal was the 15th of the season for Grabner.
Ceci put the Senators back in front with his second goal in two games at 15:08 of the second, taking a cross slot pass from Matt Duchene and beating Lundqvist with a shot past his catch glove. The goal was Ceci's fourth of the season.
Ryan opened the scoring at 4:01 of the first period, taking a pass in the slot from Mark Stone and quickly one-timing a shot behind Lundqvist. It was just the second goal of the season for Ryan.
NOTES: Rangers C Mika Zibanejad (concussion) practiced with the team as a defenseman Tuesday but did not travel to Ottawa. ... The Senators sent D Ben Harpur to their AHL affiliate in Belleville on Wednesday and recalled F Nick Paul. ... The Senators' next game is Saturday, when the play host to the NHL 100 Classic outdoors at TD Place against the Montreal Canadiens. ... The Rangers' next game is Friday at home against the Los Angeles Kings.