Brown scores twice, Senators defeat Flames

CALGARY -- Connor Brown scored two goals for the Ottawa Senators in a 4-2 win against the Calgary Flames at Scotiabank Saddledome on Monday.

Josh Norris had a goal and an assist, and Brady Tkachuk scored for the Senators (16-26-4), who have won two games in a row and three of four. Matt Murray made 26 saves.
"I think we're a new team," Brown said. "We're playing with confidence. We're making plays out of the zone. We had the lead and know we can keep the lead, and we're not just chipping it away. It's a lot more fun to be around."
Elias Lindholm and Milan Lucic scored for the Flames (19-23-3), who have lost two straight after a three-game winning streak. Jacob Markstrom made 16 saves.
"It comes down to executing when we're in position to finish and score some goals," Lucic said.
The Flames are in fifth place in the seven-team Scotia North Division, six points behind the fourth-place Montreal Canadiens. The top four teams will qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Calgary and Montreal play each other three times in four days here starting Friday.
"There's still a little hope, but we've got to stop hoping and start winning some games," Lucic said.

Brown backhanded a rebound on a shorthanded rush to put Ottawa up 2-1 with 56 seconds remaining in the second period. He started the play by picking off Noah Hanifin's pass at the Senators blue line.
"It's maturity and confidence," Brown said. "Biding your time and being patient and knowing your chances are going to come and not forcing it. I think we're doing a better and better job of that. We're making plays in all the right areas and we're not forcing things, nothing too dangerous at the far blue line. We're learning and getting better, and we're going to keep it rolling."
Norris made it 3-1 at 7:52 of the third period with a wrist shot over Markstrom's glove on the power play.
His goal came after the Senators killed consecutive penalties earlier in the period.
"We looked slow, disconnected," Lindholm said. "We weren't moving the puck good enough, and they were putting pressure, but it's a key moment of the game, and we let the team down. Very disappointed."

Lucic deflected Michael Stone's point shot to cut the lead to 3-2 at 10:47, but Brown scored into an empty net with 1:35 remaining for the 4-2 final after a Matthew Tkachuk turnover at the Calgary blue line.
"I think late in the game [there] are key moments when sometimes we make tough decisions," Lindholm said. "It's part of the game, but it seems to keep coming at key moments in the game. It's something we've got to work on and make sure it don't happen too often."
Brady Tkachuk put Ottawa ahead 1-0 at 9:50 of the first period when he collected a clearing attempt that deflected off Norris and shot over Markstrom's glove.
Lindholm tied it 1-1 at 11:23 when he poked his own rebound from behind Murray over the goal line. He has four goals and four assists during a six-game point streak.
NOTES: Ottawa is 6-2-0 against Calgary this season. ... The Senators are 9-1-1 when leading entering the third period. ... The Flames are 1-18-1 when trailing entering the third period. ... Norris has three goals and five assists during a five-game point streak. ... Brown is tied with three players for second in the NHL with three shorthanded goals; Columbus Blue Jackets forward Cam Atkinson has four.