OTTAWA (Reuters) - The Ottawa Senators once again slowed the playoff pursuit of the red-hot New Jersey Devils with a 3-1 victory on Thursday.
Chris Neil scored two third-period goals as the Senators defeated the Devils for the second time in less than two weeks, stalling their late bid for an improbable post-season appearance.
The Devils (33-33-4) entered the night with just two losses in their last 17 games, but
their second slip-up against the East's bottom-placed Senators (26-36-9) left them six points shy of the eighth and final playoff spot in the conference.
"I think it's definitely two disappointing losses against these guys," Devils goaltender Martin Brodeur told reporters after finishing with 22 saves.
"You've got to give them credit. They played really well. Their goalie was outstanding and he was the difference why we didn't come out of this with points."
Goaltender Curtis McElhinney made 33 saves for Ottawa, including 13 in the third. New Jersey's Brian Rolston pulled his team within 2-1 in the same period, but the visitors' search for an equalizer came up short.
McElhinney denied Ilya Kovalchuk on a breakaway late in the third and Neil sealed the win with an empty-net score with 38 seconds left.
Ryan Shannon gave the Senators a 1-0 lead at 19:02 in the first, and after a scoreless second period, Neil made a tip-in 55 seconds into the third for a 2-0 advantage.
"To play against a desperate team trying to make the playoffs was a nice win for us," McElhinney said. "It's a good challenge. It's a lot of fun."
Chris Neil scored two third-period goals as the Senators defeated the Devils for the second time in less than two weeks, stalling their late bid for an improbable post-season appearance.
The Devils (33-33-4) entered the night with just two losses in their last 17 games, but
their second slip-up against the East's bottom-placed Senators (26-36-9) left them six points shy of the eighth and final playoff spot in the conference.
"I think it's definitely two disappointing losses against these guys," Devils goaltender Martin Brodeur told reporters after finishing with 22 saves.
"You've got to give them credit. They played really well. Their goalie was outstanding and he was the difference why we didn't come out of this with points."
Goaltender Curtis McElhinney made 33 saves for Ottawa, including 13 in the third. New Jersey's Brian Rolston pulled his team within 2-1 in the same period, but the visitors' search for an equalizer came up short.
McElhinney denied Ilya Kovalchuk on a breakaway late in the third and Neil sealed the win with an empty-net score with 38 seconds left.
Ryan Shannon gave the Senators a 1-0 lead at 19:02 in the first, and after a scoreless second period, Neil made a tip-in 55 seconds into the third for a 2-0 advantage.
"To play against a desperate team trying to make the playoffs was a nice win for us," McElhinney said. "It's a good challenge. It's a lot of fun."
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