Senators 3, Capitals 1
OTTAWA -- The Senators ended 2013 with something they didn't possess for almost two months: a winning streak.
Ottawa's 3-1 victory over the Washington Capitals on Monday night at Canadian Tire Centre marked the first time the Senators put together back-to-back victories since they claimed three in a row from Nov. 5-9.
Center Kyle Turris scored the game-winner in the second period, and center Mika Zibanejad and winger Clarke MacArthur had the other Ottawa goals. MacArthur's was an empty-netter.
Winger Joel Ward had the lone Washington tally.
Senators goalie Craig Anderson allowed the game's first goal but then shut the door the rest of the way, stopping 34 shots. His best of the night was a glove save he made off winger Eric Fehr with just over two minutes left in the game.
Capitals goalie Philipp Grubauer made 35 saves.
The Senators survived both of their short-handed situations against the league's top-ranked power play. The Ottawa power play was 0-for-3.
Turris broke a 1-1 tie early with the only goal of the middle period, taking a pass from winger Bobby Ryan, then splitting the Capitals' defense before putting a deke on Grubauer. It was his 10th goal of the season.
The Capitals opened the scoring 2:11 into the game when Ward took a backhand from the slot that hit the knob on Anderson's stick, changing the direction of a shot that appeared to be going wide. The goal was Ward's 12th of the season, but just his third in the last 21 games.
The Senators tied the score at 13:49 of the first when Zibanejad was left with an open net after a nice pass by winger Cory Conacher.
The Senators (17-18-7) play host to the Winnipeg Jets on Thursday. The Capitals (20-15-5) return home to play the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday.
NOTES: After scoring eight goals in his first 19 games, Senators C Mika Zibanejad entered Monday in a 12-game slump. He ended it in the first period, which was his fourth period as the replacement on a top line for injured C Jason Spezza. ... The Senators lost RW Chris Neil when he suffered a lower-body injury trying to hit Capitals RW Alex Ovechkin early in the first. Without Neil, the Senators were minus their three letter-wearers. Spezza, the captain, and D Chris Phillips both missed their second game in a row with injuries. ... Ovechkin remains one assist shy of passing Dale Hunter for third place on the franchise list, but getting there might take him awhile. Along with his 30 goals, he has only 11 helpers. ... Ovechkin scored 62 goals in the first 364 days of the 213 calendar year. ... Capitals D John Carlson led the team in ice time for the 19th time in 21 games.
