By Canadian Press

Senators break out of early deficit, score five unanswered in 5-2 win over Capitals

Oct 20, 2022 | 7:50 PM

OTTAWA — The Ottawa Senators scored five unanswered goals after an early two-goal deficit to earn a 5-2 win over the Washington Capitals on Thursday night.

Drake Batherson scored a pair of goals in the second period, followed by Shane Pinto’s third-period marker that proved to be the winner. 

Tyler Motte and Alex DeBrincat added empty-net goals for their first with the Senators. Anton Forsberg stopped 22 shots in the win.

It’s the first time since January 2017 that Ottawa (2-2-0) defeated Washington at home.

T.J. Oshie and Anthony Mantha scored for Washington (2-3-0) in the opening period on the power play. Darcy Kuemper made 39 saves.

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Ottawa took its first lead of the game 5:53 into the third as Tyler Motte found a trailing Pinto who scored on a wrist shot from the slot to put the Senators up 3-2. Pinto now has goals in three straight games.

Moments later Forsberg made a huge save on Marcus Johansson to preserve the lead.

Trailing 2-0 after a lacklustre first period, the Senators were able to square things up on a pair of power-play goals of their own.

Batherson scored his second goal in as many games off a pass from Brady Tkachuk 5:48 into the second period. 

Less than two minutes later, Thomas Chabot fired a shot from the point and Batherson was able to jump on the rebound in front to beat Kuemper for his second of the night.

The Capitals struggled to generate much momentum in the second and were outshot 15-5 by the Senators.

Washington got going early scoring a pair of power-play goals to take the lead in the first.

The Capitals had a two-man advantage for 72 seconds and Johansson fed Oshie to open the scoring midway through the period. 

Mantha scored 24 seconds later with a shot from the point to go up 2-0.

INTERESTING FACT OR STAT

Anton Forsberg’s first career win came against Washington when he played for Columbus in 2016. Forsberg replaced Curtis McElhinney who had been injured in OT. According to Elias Sports Bureau, he’s the first goalie to earn his first NHL win in a game he entered after regulation.

NOTES: The Senators have not won at home vs. Washington since Jan. 2017. Washington is 8-1-1 in their last 10 visits to Canadian Tire Centre. Former Senator Connor Brown missed a chance to play his former teammates Thursday. He was placed on the long-term injury list after suffering a leg injury Monday. The Capitals were also without centre Evgeny Kuznetsov, who is serving a one-game suspension. The Senators unveiled a banner in former owner Eugene Melnyk’s honour prior to the game. Melnyk died in March earlier this year. His daughters Anna and Olivia were on hand for a ceremonial puck drop.

UP NEXT

The Senators host the Arizona Coyotes Saturday afternoon. The Capitals will return home to host the Los Angeles Kings Saturday night.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 20, 2022.

Lisa Wallace, The Canadian Press