Anderson, Senators blank Islanders
OTTAWA -- Craig Anderson made 33 saves in his first game since Dec. 5, leading the Ottawa Senators to a 3-0 victory over the New York Islanders at Canadian Tire Centre on Saturday.
The shutout was the 37th of his career for Anderson, who rejoined the Senators following the all-star break after being away on personal leave as his wife battles cancer.
Mark Stone, Zack Smith and Jean-Gabriel Pageau scored for the Senators (29-18-6).
Thomas Greiss made 21 saves for the Islanders (24-19-10).
Anderson improved his record to 13-6-1 by making 10 saves in the first period, 14 in the second and nine in the third.
Stone opened the scoring at 4:10 of the first period with his 20th goal of the season. After jumping to intercept a clearing attempt along the right wing boards, he made a nice move to get around a couple of defenders then sent a pass to Erik Karlsson in the high slot.
Karlsson's shot missed the target, but Stone picked the puck up behind the net and immediately banked a shot in off Greiss' leg.
The Senators scored two goals in the second period, despite being outshot 14-5.
Smith put Ottawa in front 2-0 at 4:35 of the second while driving to the net, taking a good pass from Kyle Turris, pulling the puck to his backhand and tucking it behind Greiss. It was his 13th of the season.
The Senators added to their lead at the 7:12 mark of the middle frame, three seconds after the expiration of a Smith penalty.
After the two of them did a solid job on the penalty kill, Tom Pyatt set up Pageau with a pass to the front of the net off a rush. Pageau shoveled it in for his sixth of the season.
NOTES: The Senators went with seven defensemen and 11 forwards for the second game in a row. ... RW Curtis Lazar was scratched for the third consecutive game and RW Chris Neil was scratched for the second straight game by Ottawa. ... With the return of G Craig Anderson, Andrew Hammond was put on waivers by the Senators. Hammond turned 29 on Saturday. ... The Islanders made no lineup changes. RW Stephen Gionta was scratched for the seventh straight game and D Scott Mayfield was scratched for fifth game in a row.