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BEATING THE BEST: Ottawa Senators impressive in win over New York Rangers

Senators 6, Rangers 2

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There was plenty to like Tuesday night as the Ottawa Senators knocked off the best team in the NHL.

The Senators beat the New York Rangers, who came into the game with an 18-4-1 record (10-2-1 on the road), 6-2. And they did it impressively, on home ice.

The beauty of it? Good goaltending. Strong work ethic. Sound positional play. And a huge successful penalty kill with the Senators playing two men short for a 1:25 stretch early in the third period, bringing fans to their feet.

Asked if it was his team’s most complete game of the year, Senators coach D.J. Smith said: “Offensively, for sure. There was a stretch in the second period where we were racing around. As a team that’s trying to be good every day, you can’t have those little lapses.

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“In saying that, right now that’s the best team in the National Hockey League. Offensively, we held onto a lot of pucks. We did some really good things defensively as well. It was really good to kill that 5-on-3 and get a bit of confidence. That’s nine good periods in a row for us; we’re starting to have a bit of consistency.”

Beating the Rangers should give the Senators, who now have a 10-10 record, a nice boost of confidence.

“I thought we played really well against Columbus and didn’t get the result,” said Smith. “Sometimes you’re losing when you’re winning. We played well against Seattle, here we are playing well and we got the result today.”

The Senators’ first two lines – Josh Norris with Brady Tkachuk and Claude Giroux and Tim Stutzle with Vladimir Tarasenko and Drake Batherson – took care of all the scoring. Tkachuk and Tarasenko each had two goals, while Giroux and Batherson had one each.

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“It was great for Vladdy to score,” said Smith. “To score a highlight goal is going to give him some confidence. Then he gets a second one. If you can get your top six rolling like that, you’re going to win some games.”

“It’s not just the two lines, but when everyone is feeling good about themselves, feeling good about the game, we’re tough to handle,” said Tkachuk.

Ottawa took a 1-0 lead 11 minutes into the game when Tkachuk tipped in an Artem Zub shot from the blueline.

With 1:26 left in the first period, Giroux tried a wraparound as he circled the net and knocked the puck past Rangers goalie Igor Shesterkin. With 1,021 career points, Giroux is now tied with former New York Rangers star Rod Gilbert for 90th place all-time in NHL scoring.

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New York Rangers on Tuesday night at the Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa." src="https://i0.wp.com/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital/ottawasun/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/ottsenatorsdec5-2.jpg?resize=900%2C675&ssl=1" height="675" layout="responsive" width="900">

The Ottawa Senators’ Brady Tkachuk scores against Igor Shesterkin of the New York Rangers on Tuesday night at the Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa.Photo by Tony Caldwell /Postmedia

The Rangers, on the power play, got a goal back 39 seconds into the second period when an Artemi Panarin wrist shot found its way through traffic and past Ottawa goalie Anton Forsberg, who was making his second straight start after blanking Seattle 2-0 Saturday.

Tarasenko made it 3-1 at 5:13 of the second when he broke down the right side and snapped a shot past Shesterkin, blocker side. But 22 seconds later, the Rangers cut it to a one-goal deficit when defenceman K’Andre Miller scored on a rebound.

Ottawa made it 4-2 with 12:42 left in the period when Batherson knocked in a rebound.

Tkachuk took a rebound off the boards and stuffed it into the net with a bit more than two minutes left in the second.

Senators defenceman Jakob Chychrun prevented a goal with 8 1/2 minutes left in the period when he batted away a shot that was heading into the net. Forsberg prevented another three minutes later with a terrific glove save on a shot destined for the top corner.

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An empty-net goal by Tarasenko with 2:50 left made it 6-2.

“You have to trust your work,” said Tarasenko. “Some chances don’t go in, but you keep working. The guys created chances for me today … and they went in.”

Forsberg stepped up big when the game was close.

“It’s nice to be on a roll,” said Forsberg. “I feel comfortable with my own game. We’re creating a lot more and playing for each other.”

Ottawa looks to extend its winning streak to three Thursday, with the Toronto Maple Leafs in town.

“(This win) definitely helps,” said Tkachuk. “Once we get past tonight, all our focus is on Toronto. There are always lessons and certain things we can improve on. I like where we’re heading.”

New York Rangers at the Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa on Tuesday." src="https://i0.wp.com/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital/ottawasun/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/ottsenatorsdec5-1.jpg?resize=900%2C675&ssl=1" height="675" layout="responsive" width="900">

Ottawa Senators goalie Anton Forsberg makes a save against Alexis Lafrenière of the New York Rangers at the Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa on Tuesday.Photo by Tony Caldwell /Postmedia

New York Rangers on Tuesday night at the Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa." src="https://i0.wp.com/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital/ottawasun/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/ottsenatorsdec5-3-e1701825533217.jpg?resize=900%2C522&ssl=1" height="522" layout="responsive" width="900">

Ottawa Senator Brady Tkachuk tries to score against Igor Shesterkin of the New York Rangers on Tuesday night at the Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa.Photo by Tony Caldwell /Postmedia

New York Rangers on Tuesday night at the Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa." src="https://i0.wp.com/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital/ottawasun/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/ottsenatorsdec5-4-e1701825604795.jpg?resize=900%2C492&ssl=1" height="492" layout="responsive" width="900">

Ottawa Senator Claude Giroux scores against Igor Shesterkin of the New York Rangers on Tuesday night at the Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa.Photo by Tony Caldwell /Postmedia

New York Ranger Barclay Goodrow checks for missing teeth Tuesday night at the Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa." src="https://i0.wp.com/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital/ottawasun/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/ottsenatorsdec5.jpg?resize=900%2C675&ssl=1" height="675" layout="responsive" width="900">

New York Ranger Barclay Goodrow checks for missing teeth Tuesday night at the Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa.Photo by Tony Caldwell /Postmedia

New York Ranger Nick Bonino at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa on Tuesday." src="https://i0.wp.com/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital/ottawasun/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/ottsenatorsdec5-5-e1701825661720.jpg?resize=900%2C600&ssl=1" height="600" layout="responsive" width="900">

Ottawa Senator Brady Tkachuk flies over New York Ranger Nick Bonino at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa on Tuesday.Photo by Tony Caldwell /Postmedia

New York Rangers at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa on Tuesday." src="https://i0.wp.com/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital/ottawasun/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/ottsenatorsdec5-6.jpg?resize=900%2C675&ssl=1" height="675" layout="responsive" width="900">

Anton Forsberg of the Ottawa Senators makes a save against the New York Rangers at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa on Tuesday.Photo by Tony Caldwell /Postmedia

New York Ranger Nick Bonino at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa on Tuesday." src="https://i0.wp.com/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital/ottawasun/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/ottsenatorsdec5-7-e1701825746906.jpg?resize=900%2C555&ssl=1" height="555" layout="responsive" width="900">

Brady Tkachuk of the Ottawa Senators flies over New York Ranger Nick Bonino at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa on Tuesday.Photo by Tony Caldwell /Postmedia

New York Rangers at the Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa on Tuesday." src="https://i0.wp.com/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital/ottawasun/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/ottsenatorsdec5-8-e1701828933856.jpg?resize=900%2C543&ssl=1" height="543" layout="responsive" width="900">

Ottawa Senators goalie Anton Forsberg makes a toe save against the New York Rangers at the Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa on Tuesday.Photo by Tony Caldwell /Postmedia

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2023-12-06 03:45:00
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