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 Silfverberg got a rebound of defenseman Eric Gryba's shot and put it past Henrik Lundqvist for his fourth goal of the season. Zack Smith and Patrick Wiercioch scored in the first period, defenseman Sergei Gonchar had two assists, and Robin Lehner made 33 saves for the Senators.
Ottawa broke an 0-2-2 skid and won on the road for only the fourth time (4-7-2). Ottawa had been 1-7-2 in its previous 10 road games, but the Senators improved to 12-1-1 in their past 14 visits to Madison Square Garden.
Rick Nash and Brad Richards, in his first game back following a two-game injury absence, scored in the opening period, but the Rangers had a season-best, four-game winning streak broken.
Lundqvist stopped 36 shots.
The Senators dominated the first half of the opening period, but their 2-0 lead was gone before the intermission.
Just 13 seconds after Wiercioch doubled Ottawa's advantage, Nash cut the Rangers' deficit in half with his ninth goal of the season and first not scored in the third period.
Nash took a pass from defenseman Michael Del Zotto in the slot and snapped a shot that beat Lehner at 11:03. Since Nash missed four games in February -- all Rangers losses (0-3-1) -- the star forward has been on a tear upon his return.
Nash has six goals in five games, along with three assists, and he has a nine-game point streak that predates his injury.
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It was Richards' third goal of the season and first in 16 games, dating to Jan. 26 against Toronto.
Up until then, New York was chasing Ottawa all over the ice.
Smith started the scoring with his second of the season -- and in two games. Gonchar let go a shot from inside the blue line that was deflected in the slot by Smith. The puck then bounced off the ice in front of Lundqvist and slipped past him.
Wiercioch made it 2-0 with a long drive that got through a maze of legs and sticks and beat Lundqvist for a power-play goal.
The Senators held a 6-1 lead in shots after Smith's goal, but the tide turned enough that Ottawa was ahead only 14-13 at the end of the period.
NOTES: Brian Boyle took part in the pregame warm-up but was scratched to make room in the lineup for Richards. ... Senators defenseman Chris Phillips was given 19 minutes in penalties after he came to the defense of teammate Jim O'Brien in the first period. Phillips charged at Micheal Haley after he flattened O'Brien at the side of the net with a hit. Phillips still had his gloves on when Haley started punching. Phillips was given a minor penalty for instigating and another for instigating a fight while wearing a visor. He also received a major for fighting and a misconduct. Haley was called for charging in addition to his fighting major. ... Wiercioch has scored his two goals this season in the past three games.
[Associated
Press; By IRA PODELL]
Copyright 2013 The Associated
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