SENATORS 8, PENGUINS 4: Captain Daniel Alfredsson collected two goals and two assists as Ottawa scored four times in the second period to hand Pittsburgh its first regulation loss in 15 games.
Milan Michalek netted his team-leading 33rd goal and added two assists and fellow All-Star Jason Spezza and Nick Foligno had three-point performances for the Senators, who snapped a three-game losing skid and remained three points behind Northeast Division-leading Boston. The Bruins posted a 4-2 win over Los Angeles on Saturday.
Former Penguin defenseman Sergei Gonchar, Chris Phillips, Colin Greening and Kyle Turris also tallied and Craig Anderson relieved an injured Ben Bishop and stopped 19 of 20 shots. Bishop exited the contest midway through the second period after he positioned himself awkwardly to make a save.
Matt Cooke recorded his third two-goal performance in six games and captain Sidney Crosby scored his first goal since his return for the Penguins, who fell to 13-1-1 and dropped three points behind Eastern Conference-leading New York. The Rangers posted a 4-3 shootout victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday.
After Gonchar leveled the contest 33 seconds into the middle session, Phillips gave Ottawa a 3-2 lead just over 6 1/2 minutes later after his one-timer from the right faceoff circle beat Brad Thiessen.
Ottawa doubled the advantage after Gonchar's point shot caromed off Foligno and later Turris before finding the net, but Tyler Kennedy responded 14 seconds later to trim Ottawa's lead to 4-3.
Alfredsson snapped a 12-game goalless drought by converting a shorthanded breakaway with 3:53 left in the session.
Crosby trimmed the deficit back to one, but Spezza ignited Ottawa's three-goal third to seal the win.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Ottawa claimed three of the four games in the season series. ... All-Star Evgeni Malkin saw his six-game point streak come to an end. Malkin recorded seven goals and as many assists during that streak.
Pittsburgh | Ottawa | |
Matt Cooke 2 | Points | Daniel Alfredsson 4 |
Matt Cooke 2 | Goals | Daniel Alfredsson 2 |
Sidney Crosby 1 | Assists | Nick Foligno 3 |
N/A | Power Play Goals | Colin Greening 1 |
N/A | Short Handed Goals | Daniel Alfredsson 1 |
Brad Thiessen .714 | Save Percentage | Craig Anderson .950 |
Brad Thiessen 20 | Saves | Craig Anderson 19 |
Team | Shots | Goals | Power Play | Penalty Kill | Penalty Mins | Face Offs Won |
Pittsburgh | 40 | 4 | 0-4 | 2-4 | 10 | 33 |
Ottawa | 28 | 8 | 2-4 | 4-4 | 10 | 32 |