The Ottawa Senators matched a season-high four-game winning streak with an impressive 4-1 victory over the high-flying Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday.
Goaltender Brian Elliot kept the Blackhawks at bay with 29 saves in his second straight start, while the Senators (26-21-4) charged to a 2-0 advantage on first-period goals from Zack Smith and Ryan Shannon.
Marian Hossa replied for Chicago with a short-handed strike against his former team at 6:18 in the second, but Peter Regin restored the two-goal cushion for the hosts 12 minutes later.
PHOTO: AFP
Mike Fisher added the final goal on a snap-shot with 3:15 remaining.
“We know we can beat the best teams in the league,” Regin told the Ottawa Sun. “The last four games, we’ve really shown that we’re a good hockey team.”
The Blackhawks (34-12-4), who entered the contest tied with the San Jose Sharks on an NHL-leading 72 points, were beaten for the first time in four games.
Chicago was playing the third contest of a lengthy eight-game road trip but fell to defeat despite enjoying a 30-18 shot advantage over the Senators.
Patrick Kane and Brent Seabrook fired five shots apiece though Hossa was the only player to convert, finding the net on a breakaway at the location where he spent his first seven seasons.
However, Ottawa made more of their limited opportunities as they got the better of Blackhawks netminder Cristobal Huet, who saved 14 shots.
Daniel Alfredsson had sparked the Senators as of late, netting four goals and two assists in two previous games since returning from a shoulder injury, but was scoreless this time as Regin led the offense with his score and an assist.
“The guys are playing so well,” Elliot said. “That just shows we can compete with anybody in the league. Not only can we compete, we can get a convincing win.”
SHARKS 5, KINGS 1
The San Jose Sharks continued their scoring barrage with a 5-1 win over the Los Angeles Kings on Tuesday to move clear top of the NHL standings.
A day after demolishing Calgary 9-1, Patrick Marleau and Ryane Clowe scored two goals apiece as San Jose moved two points above Chicago. Dan Boyle added a goal and two assists in the Sharks’ win over their California rivals.
Wayne Simmonds scored for the Kings.
CAPITALS 3, RED WINGS 2
In Washington, Nicklas Backstrom and David Steckel scored 46 seconds apart late in the third period, rallying Washington past the Detroit Red Wings for its fourth straight victory.
DUCKS 5, SABRES 4
In Anaheim, California, Ryan Getzlaf and Evgeny Artyukhin scored 62 seconds apart to trigger a four-goal first period as Anaheim held on to beat Buffalo.
PENGUINS 6, ISLANDERS 4
In Pittsburgh, Evgeni Malkin broke out of a slump with a hat trick as the Pittsburgh Penguins blew a three-goal lead before recovering to down New York.
In other NHL action, it was:
• Rangers 8, Lightning 2
• Flyers 5, Blue Jackets 3
• Thrashers 4, Maple Leafs 3
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