Lehner's 32 saves lead Sens past Blue Jackets 4-1

[November 06, 2013]  COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -- Erik Karlsson scored two goals, and backup goalie Robin Lehner made 32 saves to lead the Ottawa Senators to a 4-1 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday night, ending a five-game losing streak.

Clarke MacArthur and Chris Neil also scored, and Jason Spezza had two assists.

Lehner earned his first win of the season while filling in for Craig Anderson, who was sidelined with a sore neck after a collision with Dallas rookie Valeri Nichushkin on Sunday.

R.J. Umberger scored a power-play goal from his knees for Columbus, which lost its fourth in a row.

The Senators are 4-3-2 on the road but just 1-3-2 at home.

Lehner became the second straight backup to stymie the Blue Jackets. Pittsburgh's Jeff Zatkoff beat them 3-0 on Saturday.

Down 2-0, the Blue Jackets cut the deficit in half 3:02 into the third period.

Umberger ended up on his knees in the slot, stealing the puck off the stick of defenseman Chris Phillips and then whipping a shot past Lehner, who came in with an 0-2-2 record and a 2.73 goals-against average.

The goal ended a drought of 103 minutes, 48 seconds for the Blue Jackets.

After the Senators killed off a penalty, Neil -- who had two fights in the third period -- scored to push the lead back to 3-1.

Jason Spezza skated with the puck down the right wall and dropped a pass to Neil, who scored his second goal of the season from the top of the right circle at 6:05.

Karlsson added an empty-net goal.

Despite being outshot 13-9 in the first period, the Senators had two quick-strike goals.

The first came at 14:51 when Karlsson collected a turnover in the neutral zone, coasted to the right dot, and lifted a wrist shot that beat goalie Curtis McElhinney high on the glove side for his fifth of the season. Karlsson extended his point streak to five games (4 goals, 5 assists).

With just 3.9 seconds left in the opening period, Kyle Turris shot was wide left on a shot on a rush. Bobby Ryan pulled the puck off the back wall and backhanded a blind centering pass to MacArthur, who was alone at the doorstep for a one-timer.

One of Columbus' best scoring opportunities came 11:20 into the second when Marian Gaborik controlled a loose puck while Lehner was flat on his face. Gaborik patiently waited for an opening, but Chris Phillips reached across with his stick, and Gaborik's shot ramped up it and over the net.

McElhinney got his second consecutive start for Columbus. He is filling in for Sergei Bobrovsky, last season's Vezina Trophy winner as the NHL's top goalie, who is working to correct some minor problems. Bobrovsky is 4-7 with a 2.79 GAA and .910 save percentage.

NOTES: Columbus LW Nick Foligno didn't play due to a personal matter. ... Ottawa will begin a five-game homestand on Thursday against Montreal. ... The Blue Jackets recalled C Sean Collins from AHL Springfield. ... Turris also extended his point streak to five games (1 goals, 6 assists) with an assist on MacArthur's goal. ... Columbus signed 2012 fourth-round draft pick Josh Anderson to a three-year, entry-level contract. ... Blue Jackets RW Jared Boll played in his 400th NHL game.

[Associated Press; By RUSTY MILLER]

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