OTTAWA, Ontario (AP) — Noah Dobson scored the tiebreaking goal in the second period and the New York Islanders beat the Ottawa Senators 4-2 Monday night for their ninth win in 11 games.
Oliver Wahlstrom, Jean-Gabriel Pageau and Brock Nelson also scored, and Mathew Barzal had two assists for the Islanders in the opener of a four-game road trip. Semyon Varlamov stopped 36 shots to win for the third time in his last four starts.
Claude Giroux had a goal and an assist, Drake Batherson also scored and Tim Stutzle added two assists for the Senators. Cam Talbot finished with 31 saves as Ottawa fell to 1-7-1 in their last nine games.
With the score tied 1-1 in the second period, Dobson stepped into a clearing attempt by the Senators along the boards inside the blue line and fired a shot that beat Talbot for his fifth with 6:45 left.
Pageau made it 3-1 with a power-play goal at 8:21 of the third as he backhanded the rebound of Dobson's one-timer from straightaway inside the blue line. It was his second.
Giroux cut the lead to 3-2 off a behind-the-back pass by Brady Tkachuk with 6:52 remaining. It was his eighth.
With Talbot pulled for an extra skater as Ottawa looked for the equalizer, Nelson scored an empty-netter to seal the victory.
The Islanders took a 1-0 lead on Wahlstrom’s power-play goal midway through the first period.
Ottawa managed to tie it during a brief 5-on-3 advantage at 8:48 of the second as Batherson one-timed a pass from Stutzle for his second goal in 11 games. It was the Senators' only goal on six power-play chances.
GIROUX HEATING UP
Giroux is on a nine-game point streak with six goals and seven assists during the stretch. Giroux has more points against the Islanders than any other opponent, with 24 goals and 46 assists in 65 games.
EARLY START
The game had a rare 5:30 p.m. start as the Senators allowed fans to watch former star Daniel Alfredsson’s induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame. The early start made for a small crowd, but they showed their respect for Alfredsson, who spent 17 seasons with the Senators, by chanting his name at 11:11 of each period in honor of his No. 11.
UP NEXT
Islanders: At Nashville on Thursday night.
Senators: Host Buffalo on Wednesday night.
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