Predators shut down Senators again
OTTAWA -- The Nashville Predators defeated the Ottawa Senators for the second time in nine days Thursday night, this time by a 5-1 count at Canadian Tire Centre.
It was just the second road win in nine tries for the Predators (7-6-3) and the first loss in regulation time for the Senators since they fell 3-1 to the Predators in Nashville on Nov. 8.
The Senators (10-6-1) also lost winger Bobby Ryan to an upper-body injury in the first period.
Center Colton Sissons, defenseman Ryan Ellis, wingers Pontus Aberg and James Neal and center Mike Ribeiro scored for the Predators.
Center Derick Brassard replied for the Senators.
Predators goalie Pekka Rinne made 30 saves. Senators goalie Mike Condon stopped 35 shots.
The Predators scored the only two goals of the third period. Defenseman P.K. Subban sent a cross-crease pass to Neal, who one-timed a shot past Condon at the 10:22 mark. It was the seventh goal in the last six games for Neal.
Ribeiro scored his second of the season with a slap shot off a 2-on-1 at 14:36 of the period.
The Predators led 3-1 after two periods with a 34-21 advantage in shots on goal.
Sissons opened the scoring with his second goal of the season at the 2:14 mark of the opening period, marking the 12th time in 17 games the Senators had surrendered the first goal.
After crossing the blue line down the left wing, Sissons sent a shot behind the net and around the boards to where Senators defenseman Erik Karlsson appeared poised to pick it up.
But the puck went under his stick to Predators winger Austin Watson, who quickly passed it in front to Sissons so he could tip it past Condon while he cruised by the Ottawa net. The fact that Senators defenseman Marc Methot had lost his stick made it tough for him to prevent Sissons from scoring.
Brassard ended a 15-game slump when he tied the game at the 8:36 mark with Predators center Mike Fisher in the box serving a double minor for high sticking. Brassard's shot from the right faceoff circle beat Rinne, who appeared to be screened on the play by Senators winger Bobby Ryan.
It was Brassard's second of the season and just the Senators fifth power play goal, ending a 0-for-14 drought.
Ellis put the Predators in front again at 15:34 of the first, taking a pass from Ribeiro and blasting a shot by Condon from the top of the right wing circle. It was Ellis' third goal of the season. He also scored against the Senators in Nashville on Nov. 8.
Aberg padded the lead to two when he beat Condon through the legs with a shot off a 2-on-1 with defenseman Roman Josi at 17:10 of the second. It was the first NHL goal for Aberg, who was a healthy scratch the previous two games.
NOTES: Senators LW Mike Hoffman missed the game with an undisclosed injury. Coach Guy Boucher said Hoffman, the team's leading goal scorer in each of the last two seasons, is day-to-day. ... Senators G Craig Anderson left the team for personal reasons Thursday. ... Senators G Andrew Hammond dressed as backup to G Mike Condon. ... Senators D Frederik Claesson was a healthy scratch. ... Predators captain Mike Fisher was honored in a pre-game ceremony. Fisher played the first 675 games of his career with the Senators. ... Predators C Cody Bass was scratched. Bass began his career with the Senators. ... Predators D Matt Carle was scratched.