In Tampa Bay Thursday, the visiting Ottawa Senators got two goals from Mark Stone en route to a 5-2 win over the Lightning.
The Senators improved to 27-16-6.
“We wanted to get back to our defensive game and we came in against a very offensive team and gave up 21 shots,” Senators coach Guy Boucher said. “To me that was the main thing. We got offense on top of that and we wanted to play 60 minutes and we did so that makes me happy. And Erik was just unbelievable.”
Kyle Turris, Mike Hoffman and Chris Kelly added markers for the Sens.
“We got the goals when we needed them to keep them from getting momentum,” Hoffman said. “We responded well. It’s always nice when you get a couple on the power play.”
Tyler Johnson and Brayden Point scored for the Bolts as they fell to 22-24-6 and are languishing in the Atlantic Division basement.
“Obviously we’re frustrated right now and not happy with the results,” Johnson said. “Early on we had some chances and they didn’t go in and they had chances and they went in. I think we’re started to try to do too much but we have to stick to our system.”
Mike Condon was not terribly busy in the Ottawa net making just 19 saves to get the win.
“I think guys are starting to get chemistry with different people,” Stone said. “At the start of the year no one could really find that chemistry with each other but we are learning ways to score. It’s been a good stretch for us offensively.”
Andrei Vasilevskiy got the start in the Lightning net and made 25 saves in absorbing the loss.
“This group has never been through this before, so it’s kind of uncharted territory for them. A lot of the guys in that room are used to winning a lot. It tests you a little bit and when things have gone so well for so long and now there’s a little bit of a bump in the road,” Tampa head coach Jon Cooper said.
WATCH: All Senators vs. Lightning highlights
Erik Karlsson contributed three assists in the win for Ottawa.
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