Karlsson's shootout goal pulls Sens past Flyers
PHILADELPHIA -- Defenseman Erik Karlsson scored the only goal of a five-round shootout to lead the Ottawa Senators to a 3-2 win over the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday night at the Wells Fargo Center.
Kyle Turris sent the game into overtime with a wraparound goal on Flyers goaltender Steve Mason with 1:59 remaining in regulation. Karlsson got an assist on the play.
The Senators also received a goal from Mark Stone in the win, which improved their record to 10-5-1 despite the fact they have scored two or fewer goals in regulation in 10 straight games.
The Flyers received goals from center Nick Cousins and left winger Michael Raffl.
Turris had a chance to win the game in overtime, but he was stopped by Mason on a rare two-on-none with Karlsson.
The Senators have won three of their past four games despite scoring just seven regulation goals in that span. A big reason is Craig Anderson, who stopped 38 of 40 shots to improve to 8-3-1.
Mason fell to 3-5-3 with the loss, during which he made 24 saves. He has failed to win back-to-back games this season. The Flyers (7-7-3) have lost four of their past five (1-2-2).
Turris' game-tying goal was his team-leading eighth of the season. Turris recorded 13 goals in 57 games with the Senators last season.
Anderson has held Ottawa's opponent to two goals or fewer in seven of his past eight starts.
The Senators entered the game struggling on the power play, where they had gone 0-for-12 in their previous four games and 1-for-24 in their previous eight games.
The Sens managed a total of just 26 shots in regulation and recorded just one shot on two power plays. The Flyers went 0-for-4 on the power play and failed to put the Senators away with two third-period man-advantages.
In an evenly played first period, the Flyers got on the board first when Cousins, centering the fourth line, netted his second goal of the season on a breakaway. Cousins intercepted pass from Ottawa center Derick Brassard at center ice, and with the help of a nice shield by defenseman Brandon Manning, streaked in alone on Anderson. Cousins snapped a shot past Anderson's stick side for his first goal since Oct. 27.
Mason kept Ottawa's anemic offense silent in the first 20 minutes, stopping Jean-Gabriel Pageau's breakaway attempt and a point-blank attempt by top-line left winger Ryan Dzingel.
The Senators tied the score 7:09 into the second period when they converted on a defensive zone turnover by Flyers right winger Jakub Voracek. Stone planted himself in the high slot, and defenseman Mark Methot found him. Stone snapped a one-timer past Mason for his third goal of the season and second in three games.
The Flyers answered at the 13:18 mark on Raffl's second goal of the season. An offensive zone faceoff win by Flyers center Pierre-Edouard Bellemare allowed Dale Weiss to get a shot off. Anderson made the initial save, but Raff; slipped behind Karlsson for the rebound goal.
The Senators had a chance to tie the score again with 4:34 remaining in the second period, but Mason made a save on a breakaway by Stone to keep the snake-bitten Senators off the board.
NOTES: The Flyers went with the same lineup that ended Saturday night's win against Minnesota, which means D Nick Schultz and Andrew MacDonald and F Roman Lyubimov were scratches. ... With G Michal Neuvirth sidelined 4-6 weeks with a knee sprain, Flyers rookie G Anthony Stolarz dressed but did not play. He's been recalled seven times since last season and has yet to play in an NHL game. That could come next week when the Flyers play back-to-back road games against Florida and Tampa Bay. ... The Flyers are back in action Thursday night against Winnipeg. ... Senators D Mark Methot was in the lineup after leaving Sunday's game early with a lower-body injury. ... D Fredrik Claesson skated in warmups but did not play. ... LW Clark MacArthur (concussion) skated with a handful of teammates on Tuesday but remains on long-term injury. ... The Senators return home to face the Nashville Predators on Thursday night. Four of their next five games are on home ice.