Karlsson's 3 points lead Senators over Blue Jackets 3-0
OTTAWA, Ontario (AP) Erik Karlsson wasn't going to take responsibility for his team's victory on Thursday night, even if he did supply all the offense.
Karlsson scored twice and added an assist, Craig Anderson made 25 saves and the Ottawa Senators beat the Columbus Blue Jackets 3-0. But the captain gave full credit to the team's bottom-six forwards for grinding down the opposition all night.
''We did what we had to do to win the game,'' Karlsson said. ''We got a few lucky bounces and that's what you need sometimes and I think everybody contributed and I think it started with the third and fourth lines.''
Seeing Curtis Lazar drop the gloves in the first period for his first NHL fight was an emotional boost for the team. While the 20-year-old doesn't plan to make it a habit, he was satisfied with the outing against Kevin Connauton.
''It was about time that someone did something to try and get the guys going,'' Lazar said.
''I was a little frustrated the last little while there, just kind of waiting for guys to do stuff. Took the onus on me to take it upon myself and thought I'd try and spark the guys. It's a little different than junior, but I thought I did pretty good.''
Anderson got his seventh win of the season and 30th career shutout. Kyle Turris scored an empty-net goal.
The Senators lost Bobby Ryan late in the third period after a hit by David Savard. Patrick Wiercioch also left early, exiting after a hit by Nick Foligno early in the second. There was no update on either player following the game.
This was Ottawa's second regulation win at home this season.
The loss snapped the Blue Jackets' three-game winning streak.
Columbus coach John Tortorella felt his team did some things well, but failed to play for three full periods.
''(Ottawa) deserved to win the game, I'm not going to disrespect them, but we didn't play well enough,'' Tortorella said. ''Our offensive guys did not play well enough. The game was up for grabs.''
Curtis McElhinney made 26 saves. He briefly played for the Senators in 2010-11.
The Senators briefly made it 3-0 early in the third on a goal by Mika Zibanejad, but Columbus used the coach's challenge and the goal was called back after it was ruled Mark Borowiecki pushed Fedor Tyutin into McElhinney, which impeded the goaltender from playing his position.
Ottawa outshot the Blue Jackets 11-6 in the second period and held a 2-0 lead after 40 minutes.
''Keeps me fresh for the third,'' Anderson said about having to face just 12 shots before the third period. ''Any time you know you're giving up six, eight shots a period you know you're playing the right way. You know you're playing hard, you know you're playing well and that's a credit to the 18 skaters in front of me.''
Karlsson opened the scoring with 3:36 left in the second. Jean-Gabriel Pageau's shot hit the post and Karlsson buried the rebound. It marked just the second time this season that the Senators scored first on home ice.
The Senators made it 2-0 less than 2 minutes later. Karlsson scored his second of the night after Ryan created the perfect screen. Ryan now has points in seven straight games.
NOTES: D Jared Cowen and LW Shane Prince were healthy scratches for the Senators. C Michael Chaput and D Dalton Prout were healthy scratches for the Blue Jackets.
