This was a close game early in the third period after Mikhail Sergachev scored on a power play. From there, things went sideways for the Bolts and Ottawa poured in four unanswered goals to cruise to a comfortable win.
Things don't get any easier for the Bolts as they depart for Boston to face the League-leading Bruins on Saturday afternoon.
Scoring Summary
1st Period
OTT 1, TBL 0
8:53 Alex DeBrincat (22) - Drake Batherson, Shane Pinto
A Lightning turnover at the offensive blue line sprung Ottawa on an odd man rush. With only Nick Perbix back, Drake Batherson fed Alex DeBrincat on the left wing for the game-opening goal.
OTT 2, TBL 0
11:37 Alex DeBrincat (23) - Erik Brannstrom
DeBrincat added his second goal less than three minutes later to double Ottawa's lead. Coming down the left wing, DeBrincat had a step on Zach Bogosian. At the circle, he pulled up to get Bogosian off his back and wristed a shot into the top corner past Brian Elliott.
2nd Period
OTT 2, TBL 1
10:28 Brayden Point (45) - Nikita Kucherov, Steven Stamkos
Off a Senators turnover at center ice, the Lightning entered the offensive zone with a 3-on-2. With the puck in the slot, Nikita Kucherov dished to Brayden Point at the left circle for a one-timer that beat Mads Sogaard.
OTT 3, TBL 1
18:04 Derick Brassard (12) - Claude Giroux, Jakob Chychrun - PPG
The Lightning were the better team throughout much of the second period, but a late tripping call on Tanner Jeannot gave Ottawa the man advantage just before intermission. Derick Brassard made them pay, wiring home a one-timer to put the Senators back up by two.
3rd Period
OTT 3, TBL 2
4:10 Mikhail Sergachev (8) - Steven Stamkos, Nikita Kucherov - PPG
Down by two to start the third, the Bolts began the final frame with a much-needed power play goal. Mikhail Sergachev wound up a big one-timer from the point that beat Sogaard.
OTT 4, TBL 2
5:45 Erik Brannstrom (2) - Unassisted
Less than two minutes later, Erik Brannstrom went coast-to-coast to put the Senators back up by two. Brannstrom picked up the puck deep in his own zone and came flying up ice with speed to score an insurance goal.
OTT 5, TBL 2
13:11 Brady Tkachuk (31) - Alex DeBrincat, Thomas Chabot - PPG
Brady Tkachuk made it a three-goal lead for the Senators with a power play goal at 13:31. DeBrincat's cross-crease feed found Tkachuk at the near post, and he guided the puck over the line.
OTT 6, TBL 2
13:35 Brady Tkachuk (32) - Tim Stutzle - ENG
Jon Cooper opted for an early pull of Elliott with an offensive zone draw coming out of a media timeout. Off the faceoff, Tim Stutzle poked the puck around Sergachev at the point and sprung Tkachuk for an empty netter.
OTT 7, TBL 2
14:39 Austin Watson (8) - Patrick Brown
A loose puck popped free for Austin Watson in front of the Elliott, and he quickly swept a backhander upstairs on Elliott to round out the scoring.
