Ottawa beats Phoenix 4-3 to end 4-game slide

[October 16, 2013]  GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) -- Cory Conacher scored at 2:48 of overtime, Jason Spezza completed a natural hat trick to erase a two-goal deficit and the Ottawa Senators ended a four-game losing streak with a 4-3 win over the Phoenix Coyotes on Tuesday night.

Phoenix took a 2-0 lead on quick goals by Rob Klinkhammer and Radim Vrbata in the second period, but the Senators rallied behind Spezza's fifth hat trick.

Mike Ribeiro tied it with just over three minutes left with his first goal of the season, redirecting a shot by Oliver Ekman-Larsson on a power play to send the game to overtime.

Conacher, who took a stick to the face in the second period, ended the game and Ottawa's opening six-game road trip by setting up in front and one-timing Marc Methot's pass from the left circle past a diving Mike Smith.

Milan Michalek added a pair of assists for Ottawa.

The Senators have gotten off to a rough start after reaching the second round of the playoffs last season, following an opening win over Buffalo by going 0-2-2.

The past two were pretty ugly, too; losses to San Jose and Anaheim in which the Senators allowed 106 combined shots.

Goalie Craig Anderson didn't last long in the loss to the Ducks, pulled after giving up two goals on nine shots in the first four minutes.

Ottawa was much better in its own end early against the Coyotes, allowing one shot in the first 14 minutes while outshooting Phoenix 12-4 in the first period.

The Coyotes changed things in a hurry at the start of the second period.

Phoenix created a couple of quick scoring chances and Klinkhammer turned one into his third goal of the season, punching in a rebound less than 90 seconds into the period.

Vrbata followed with his fourth goal 1:12 later, wristing a shot from the left circle that Anderson had trouble seeing through traffic.

The Senators managed to gather themselves after the flurry.

Ottawa pulled within 2-1 when Spezza punched in his second goal of the season after a shot by Patrick Wiercioch slid under Smith and bounced between the goalie's skates.

Spezza had another easy chance on his second goal of the game early in the third period, shooting to an empty net after Smith went out of his crease to play the puck, but had to let it go after it crossed out of the trapezoid in the corner.

Spezza completed the natural hat trick a few minutes later on a power play, ripping a slap shot from the right circle past Smith's stick side.

The Coyotes picked up the pressure late and tied it on Ribeiro's redirect, but Conacher ended it in overtime.

NOTES: Milan Michalek went up 18-17-1 in his head-to-head matchup with older brother Zbynek, Phoenix defenseman, with the Senators' win. ... Coyotes LW Mikkel Boedker had his 100th career point with an assist on Vrbata's goal. ... Coyotes D Derek Morris did not play due to an upper-body injury.

[Associated Press; By JOHN MARSHALL]

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