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NEWARK, NJ - It was another low-scoring affair between the New Jersey Devils and it's opponent on Sunday afternoon. For an eleventh straight game, the Devils scored three or fewer goals, this time in a loss to the Senators 2-1.

Tomas Tatar scored the Devils lone goal of the game, punching back against Ottawa just 1:26 after the Senators took a 1-0 lead on Zach Ostopcuks's first NHL goal.

The Senators broke the 1-1 draw just 2:50 into the third period on a goal from high in the slot by Artem Zub for the go-ahead goal.

"They get a spin-around shot in the slot, they get a point-shot and two of their least productive offensive players that they have on their team that end up scoring," head coach Sheldon Keefe said post-game. "That’s just kind of the way the game goes but you leave it like that when you don’t convert on offense."

The Devils jumped out to a great start against the Senators, outshooting them 16-2, but Senators goaltender Anton Forsberg turned away all 16 shots he faced. And as the game continued on, the Devils structure began to slip, while the Senators settled into theirs.

"I felt Ottawa got way better in terms of their structure and their game and a lot harder on us and we couldn’t find our way through," Keefe said.

"We had a great start in the game but as the game (went on), we stopped playing. When you’re in this position you just have to simplify things, play very good structurally, it’s going to come eventually. But we can’t just be doing whatever out there. We have to simplify it a lot.”

The Devils winless streak has stretched to five games, a stretch where they have gone 0-3-2.

The Devils continue to look for offense after another loss, this time to the Senators, 2-1.

POST-GAME VIDEO
Devils Post-Game Interviews: Siegenthaler | Tatar
Post-Game Interview: Head Coach Sheldon Keefe

Here are some observations from the game:

• Head coach Sheldon Keefe talked post-game about the need for his top players to be just that. As of late, the Devils offense has dried up, particularly from the team's top performers. Jesper Bratt and Timo Meier are without a goal in his last five games, Jack Hughes has two and Nico Hischier has three. These are the players most counted on to provide the offense up front.

"Our best players have to be better," Keefe said. "It's that simple. End of statement."

While the offense tries to find it's way back to a higher volume, the Devils haven't sacrificed the way they've played defensively.

“Our structure has been fine, which is why we’re hanging around in these games and not getting blown out. Defensively we’re fine. We’ve got to execute better. We’re in alone two, three times in the first period with some of our best people and, those have got to go in the net with where we’re at. We’ve got to convert. And when you don’t, it’s going to be a tough game and it was a tough game again today.”

• Keefe deployed the Devils' line of Tomas Tatar, Curtis Lazar, and Nathan Bastian against the Senators' top line of Brady Tkachuk, Josh Noris, and Drake Batherson for much of the afternoon. Trying to contain top-end talent led by the Sens captain, Tkachuk, is no easy feat, but the Lazar line stuck to the assignment while also creating their own opportunities. After 20 minutes of play, neither Tkachuk, Noris or Batherson had registered a shot on goal, but the Lazar line had six against Anton Forsberg.

The Tatar goal came just 1:26 after the Senators had opened the scoring on a Zach Ostapchuk shot squeaking through Jacob Markstrom's arm.

• Shots were 7-0 for New Jersey when the Lazar line was on the ice through 40 minutes of play.

• Ostapchuk's first career goal came on the Senators' seventh shot of the game.

• The Devils hit 13 shots in the game before the first period was over, with just over four minutes to play in the first. The 13 shots were the total they reached through all 60 minutes on Saturday against the Flyers. New Jersey finished the first period with 17 shots, holding the Senators to just two. The Senators registered their first shot 10:30 into the period.

Senators goaltender Anton Forsberg was excellent in the opening 20 minutes, turning away every shot he faced. Forsberg proved to be the backbone of the Senators for the first period, mainly as the Devils continuously applied extended pressure and carried most of the play.

What was most encouraging was that New Jersey had moments where it could access its rush game and create offensive pressure without simultaneously sacrificing its defensive efforts. The Devils gave up little to the Senators, just two shots on Jacob Markstrom, and were quick to separate Ottawa from the puck, limiting its offensive zone presence.

• Justin Dowling returned to the lineup after not playing on Saturday. Brian Halonen was a healthy scratch.

WHAT'S NEXT
The Devils will induct Jacques Lemaire into the Devils Ring of Honor on Wednesday night when they host the Boston Bruins. You can watch on MSGSN or listen on the Devils Hockey Network. Puck drop is 7:23 p.m. ET. and the ceremony begins at 7 p.m.