Senators End Blueshirts' Point Streak

Andrej Meszaros's bank shot off the stick of Rangers defenseman Marek Malik snapped a third-period tie and lifted the Ottawa Senators to a 3–2 victory last night.

Meszaros rushed up the slot and took a shot that connected with Malik's stick, hit the right post, and caromed past Henrik Lundqvist with 8:48 left. The defenseman hadn't scored in 21 games.

Ottawa, which erased a 2–0 deficit in the second period, won for the second time in six games and improved to 10–1–4 in its last 15. Jason Spezza and Daniel Alfredsson added goals, and Ray Emery made 32 saves for the Senators. He blocked Martin Straka's backhander in front with 40 seconds left.

Michael Nylander scored twice for New York, which began the night tied for eighth in the Eastern Conference. Henrik Lundqvist stopped 30 shots.

The Rangers, who had a sevengame point streak broken (5–0–2), squandered a 2–0 lead for the sixth time in 18 contests and sustained their 21st one-goal loss. Most of the advantages, including in a 3–2 overtime loss at Pittsburgh on Saturday, were given up in the third period — but Ottawa rallied earlier in this one.

Just as Paul Mara exited the penalty box following Ottawa's first power play, Spezza scored his 26th of the season and recorded a point in his 14th straight game (eight goals, 16 assists).

Wade Redden's shot from the middle of the blue line was tipped in front by Dany Heatley and bounced off Lundqvist. Spezza found the loose puck and pushed it between Lundqvist's pads with 8:24 left in the period. Heatley stretched his point streak to 15 games (11 goals, 11 assists).

Mara took another penalty that led to a goal less than 2 minutes later.

The Senators couldn't capitalize while the defenseman was in the box, but Alfredsson reached the 25-goal mark for the sixth time in 11 NHL seasons 6 seconds after the penalty expired.

After the Rangers spent most of the opening two minutes trying to get the puck away from Ottawa in their zone, Nylander gave New York a 1–0 lead at 2:46 with his first goal in six games.

Jaromir Jagr worked the puck free along the left-wing boards and got it out to Petr Prucha, who slid a pass to Nylander as he glided toward the net. Nylander smacked a shot off Emery's pads before getting to the rebound and slipping it inside the right post.

Nylander struck again with 4:38 left in the period. Jagr tried to stuff the puck past Emery, but it stayed out as a scrum formed inside the crease. Nylander and Brad Isbister took turns whacking at the loose puck, before Nylander flipped a shot under the crossbar to make it 2–0.