Sens end skid with win to keep pace

In Ottawa Tuesday, the Senators rode Craig Anderson‘s 24 saves to a 2-0 shutout of the Detroit Red Wings.

Craig Anderson picked up the shutout win over Detroit Tuesday – file photo by Brianna O’Mara

The win stopped a five-game skid by the Sens as they kept pace with the Boston Bruins who blanked the Tampa Bay Lightning, 4-0.

“It was a good win for us,” Anderson said. “We were due. We were starting to play some good hockey and we weren’t getting rewarded for it. I think tonight everything kind of turned for us a little bit, but it started a couple of games ago.”

Erik Karlsson and Tom Pyatt struck for the Sens goals.

Karlsson, who was back from a two-game injury stint, seemed to be injured in the third period and left the ice; he returned to the bench but did not play the rest of the game.

“Nothing really,” Karlsson said. “I’m watching guys like [Fredrik] Claesson and [Ben] Harpur especially, and they played really well yesterday and even better today. The guys did a great job in controlling the game and we felt it wasn’t really necessary to use me at the end, unless we really needed to, and it never got to that point. Just took some ice time off and rested up.”

WATCH: All Red Wings vs. Senators highlights

Jimmy Howard made 22 saves in taking the loss.

The game was lackluster given that the Senators need to win to save their season.

“It was two teams that didn’t really have much going,” Detroit’s Henrik Zetterberg said. “They scored two, we didn’t score any. Overall there was not much going on. It’s a tough team to play against. They clog up the neutral zone with five guys, and if you’re not crisp with your passes or making sure the puck goes deep, they are turning the play really fast. Once they get in our end, they’re good.”