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Senators rally for 5-3 win over Avalanche in Ottawa's home opener

Thursday, 10.16.2014 / 10:35 PM / News

The Canadian Press

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Senators rally for 5-3 win over Avalanche in Ottawa's home opener

OTTAWA - Clarke MacArthur scored the winner for the Senators as they defeated the Colorado Avalanche 5-3 on Thursday night in Ottawa's home opener.

Bobby Ryan, Zack Smith and David Legwand also scored for the Senators (3-1-0) as Craig Anderson faced 31 shots. Chris Neil added some insurance with an empty-net goal.

Alex Tanguay, John Mitchell and Gabriel Landeskog scored for the Avalanche (1-3-1). Calvin Pickard faced 28 shots in his NHL debut.

Pickard was called up earlier in the day from the American Hockey League's Lake Erie Monsters after the Avalanche placed Semyon Varlamov on injured reserve. Pickard wasn't expected to see any action, but Colorado lost backup Reto Berra before the game was three minutes old. Berra was knocked over by Ottawa's Kyle Turris, who was pushed by Mitchell.

Pickard was solid for the Avalanche, but the Senators scored two quick goals in the third to take control of the game and bring the 19,913 on hand at the Canadian Tire Centre to their feet.

After being robbed by Pickard in the second Ryan made the most of a second opportunity and beat the 22-year-old through the legs to tie the game. Just over three minutes later MacArthur scored to give the Senators their first lead of the game to make it 4-3.

Trailing 3-1, Ottawa made it a one-goal game early in the second as Legwand scored a power-play goal, his first as a Senator.

Anderson and Pickard were the difference for their respective teams in the second.

Anderson made four consecutive saves late in the period, while Pickard's best came at the 17-minute mark as he slid across and robbed Ryan.

The Avalanche jumped out to an early 1-0 lead as Tanguay grabbed a loose puck and beat Anderson high. Colorado made it 2-0 at the halfway mark as Mitchell scored shorthanded after beating Erik Karlsson in a foot race.

The Senators cut the lead in half as Smith tapped in Curtis Lazar's shot, but after going 0 for 13 on the power play this season the Avalanche finally managed to score with the man advantage as Landeskog scored from in close.

Colorado will end this four-game road trip on a high as they head to Montreal to take on the Canadiens Saturday night, while the Senators will host Columbus.

Notes: The Senators will be without D Marc Methot (back, indefinite). D Jared Cowen, LW Mike Hoffman and LW Colin Greening were a healthy scratch for Ottawa. The Avalanche placed G Semyon Varlamov on injured reserve prior to the start of the game. Colorado was also without LW Patrick Bordeleau (back). Golfers Brad Fritsch and Brooke and Brittany Henderson were on hand for the game.

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