Senators use power-play goal to defeat Oilers, end five-game skid

EDMONTON-- Tyler Ennis had a goal and two assists for the Ottawa Senators in a 5-2 win against the Edmonton Oilers at Rogers Place on Wednesday that ended a five-game losing streak.

Artem Anisimov scored a power-play goal for Ottawa (12-16-1), its ninth of the season. Craig Anderson made 24 saves in his first start after missing four games with a lower-body injury.
"We knew it wasn't good enough in Vancouver (a 5-2 loss at the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday)," Ennis said. "We still didn't come out with our best in the first period, but we stuck with it and got the win."
WATCH: [All Senators vs. Oilers highlights]
Mikko Koskinen gave up three goals on 12 shots for Edmonton (17-10-3). He was replaced by Mike Smith at 11:42 of the second period. Smith made 12 saves.
"We gave up two poor goals that got them in the game," Oilers coach Dave Tippett said. "They are a desperate team and they outworked us the rest of the game. We chased the game. We weren't very good. The first period we were all right, but our power play wasn't very good."
Jujhar Khaira gave Edmonton a 1-0 lead at 14:09 of the first period off a centering pass from Leon Draisaitl. Edmonton outshot Ottawa 10-4 in the first period and hit the post twice.
"It was a great opportunity for us to cement our game, and you let your foot off the gas and let teams hang around, and this is what happens," Oilers forward Sam Gagner said. "If we want to be a top team in the League, you have to keep playing the same way regardless of what goes on in the first period. You keep pushing."
Anisimov tied it 1-1 at 5:15 of the second period, stuffing a shot underneath Koskinen from the side of the net in the final second of the power play. Ottawa is 9-for-91 this season (9.9 percent).

Brown scored 12 seconds later to make it 2-1. Ennis gave Ottawa a 3-1 lead at 11:42 off a pass from Brown on a 2-on-1.
"Not a great start. Anderson was great, he held us in the game, but they certainly had a lot of speed," Senators coach D.J. Smith said. "We adjusted and found that speed in the second period. Big power-play goal, which we haven't had a ton from. I thought we played some good defense that allowed us to get some offense."
Oscar Klefbom scored on an Edmonton power play with a point shot through a screen to make it 3-2 at 17:37.
Anthony Duclair scored 1:30 into the third period on a rebound off the end boards to make it 4-2, and Namestnikov made it 5-2 at 11:47.
"It's not the night we wanted, you have to give them credit, they worked extremely hard, they competed and competed harder than us," Oilers defenseman Adam Larsson said. "We need to find a way to win these games. You don't want to go into March and look back at these games. We have to learn from it."

Ottawa had not won since Nov. 22 (4-1 against the New York Rangers).
"We haven't been getting the puck luck, but we've been playing really well defensively," Brown said. "It was good for myself and for a couple of guys in this room to find the back of the net."

They said it

"It's fun coming home and playing. Everybody that goes and plays in their hometown it's always fun. I always have a lot of friends and family in the stands. It's actually my first time scoring against Edmonton, so it's extra special tonight." -- Senators forward Tyler Ennis
"We just stopped playing the right way and we cheated for offense. It doesn't matter who you play, if you play that way, you're not going to win many games." -- Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl

Need to know

Senators forward Nick Paul (upper body) left 4:05 into the first period. Smith said he was kept out for precautionary reasons and hopes he is back for the next game. ... Anderson is 4-0-0 with Ottawa at Edmonton. He is 12-7-1 in his NHL career against the Oilers. ... Ottawa has a six-game winning streak at Edmonton. It has yet to lose in four games at Rogers Place. ... Edmonton has not won more than two straight since beginning the season 5-0-0.

What's next

Senators: At the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday (1 p.m. ET; TVAS, NBCSP, TSN5, NHL.TV)
Oilers: Host the Los Angeles Kings on Friday (9 p.m. ET; SNW, FS-W, NHL.TV)