Senators snap Pens’ regulation win streak

Associated Press

ottawa

Daniel Alfredsson had two goals and two assists, and the Ottawa Senators dealt Pittsburgh its first regulation loss in 15 games, beating the Penguins 8-4 on Saturday night.

Sidney Crosby scored his first goal in six games since making his second comeback of the season, but it wasn’t enough as Pittsburgh fell to 13-1-1 since a 6-2 loss in Buffalo on Feb. 19.

Crosby, who made a spectacular pass to set up one of Matt Cooke’s two goals, beat Craig Anderson with a shot into the top right corner 11:43 into the third to draw Pittsburgh within 5-4. He has 11 points since his latest return from concussion-like symptoms.

Pittsburgh dropped three points behind the Eastern Conference-leading New York Rangers. The Penguins have eight games left, compared to seven for New York.

Jason Spezza increased Ottawa’s lead to 6-4 with his 31st goal on a breakaway at 13:16. Alfredsson, who scored a short-handed goal late in the second, added his second of the game at 17:05.

Milan Michalek had a goal and two assists, and Kyle Turris and Sergei Gonchar each had a goal and an assist for Ottawa, which also got goals from Chris Phillips and Colin Greening.

Craig Anderson stopped 18 shots in relief for his first win since Feb. 22. Ottawa starter Ben Bishop made 17 saves before leaving the game 9:23 into the second after sustaining an undisclosed lower body injury during a goal-mouth scramble.

The Senators are seventh in the East with 86 points.

Tyler Kennedy also scored for the Penguins. Brad Thiessen made 20 saves in his first loss in four games with Pittsburgh.

Alfredsson scored his first goal in 13 games at 16:07 of the second, a short-handed effort that restored Ottawa’s two-goal lead at 5-3.

Crosby just missed pushing Cooke’s first tally across the goal line, which tied it 1-1 at 9:46 of the first.

The Penguins’ captain made a spectacular play to set up Cooke’s second goal at 13:01. Crosby spun to his left to evade defenseman Erik Karlsson’s coverage and fired a hard backhand pass in front to Cooke, who directed the puck past Bishop for his 19th goal to put Pittsburgh up 2-1.

Gonchar tied it 33 seconds into the second with his fourth goal.

Phillips scored a power-play goal 7:05 into the second to put Ottawa up 3-2. Turris made it 4-2 with his ninth at 7:41.

Kennedy drew Pittsburgh back within 4-3 with his ninth goal 14 seconds later at 7:55.