Tim Stutzle scored the go-ahead goal midway into the first period to fuel the visiting Ottawa Senators to a 4-1 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday.
Stutzle joined Ridly Greig with a goal and an assist and captain Brady Tkachuk and defenseman Tyler Kleven also tallied for the Senators, who improved to 3-0-2 in their last five games.
Ottawa defenseman Thomas Chabot notched two assists and James Reimer made 21 saves in his second start since being signed as an unrestricted free agent last week.
Sean Monahan scored a goal for the Blue Jackets, who went 0-for-3 on the power play en route to seeing their season high-tying four-game winning streak come to a halt. The loss was the first since Rick Bowness replaced Dean Evason as the team’s head coach on Jan. 12.
Columbus’ Elvis Merzlikins turned aside five of seven shots in the first period before being replaced by Jet Greaves (12 saves) to start the second. Merzlikins was dealing with an illness, per the club.
Nifty skating from Stutzle resulted in Ottawa claiming a 2-1 lead at 10:15 of the first period.
Stutzle maneuvered from along the right goal line to the top of the offensive zone and back to the left circle before beating Merzlikins between his pads. The goal was Stutzle’s team-leading 22nd of the season and third in his last four games.
Greig converted an odd-man rush by tucking the puck between the pads of Greaves to double the Senators’ advantage at 6:49 of the third period.
Tkachuk found the empty net to cap the scoring with 3:06 remaining in the third period.
Kleven’s sharp wrist shot from the left circle handcuffed Merzlikins to open the scoring at 3:34 of the first period. Kleven’s goal was his first since March 13.
Monahan forged a tie just more than four minutes later after his shot from the right circle sailed under the crossbar.
–Field Level Media
