With a one-goal performance and three assists, Claude Giroux led the Ottawa Senators to a 6-2 win over the Detroit Red Wings on Monday night.
It was the first of a two-game series in as many nights between these two teams, who are battling for a berth in the Eastern Conference playoffs.
The Senators (29-26-4) are now two points behind the Red Wings (28-23-8), making Tuesday’s return game crucial to staying in the field of six teams battling for an eventual participation in the playoffs.
Jake Sanderson, Drake Batherson, Brady Tkachuk, Thomas Chabot and Tim Stützle also scored for the Senators, while Cam Talbot made 22 saves.
Tyler Bertuzzi and David Perron scored for the Red Wings. Magnus Hellberg stopped 36 shots.
After going scoreless in two power-play attempts in the first period, the Senators got it on third down, with Sanderson scoring from the blue line to make it 1-1 early in the second period.
The Red Wings responded with a goal also on the power play, when Perron fired a wrist shot from the face-off circle.
The Senators then scored three straight goals before the end of the engagement.
Batherson tied the game midway through the period with his 12e power play goal this season. Giroux gave the Senators the lead when he broke in alone and was able to outwit Hellberg despite being hampered by Gustav Lindstrom.
Giroux then managed to send a backhand pass to Tkachuk who beat Hellberg to make it 4-2.
Bertuzzi opened the scoring midway through the first period when he managed to cut in front of the net and slip a backhand past Talbot.
Lisa Wallace, The Canadian Press