Tkachuk's first NHL hat trick powers Senators past Lightning

OTTAWA --Brady Tkachuk scored his first NHL hat trick for the Ottawa Senators in a 4-0 win against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Canadian Tire Centre on Saturday.

"We didn't let off the gas all game tonight, so I think we're definitely proud of the effort," Tkachuk said. "I think we just played the right way. We were on the forecheck and doing the details really well tonight."
Anton Forsberg made 25 saves for his first NHL shutout, and Drake Batherson had three assists for the Senators (8-16-1), who are 4-1-0 in their past five games.
"It's easy to root for a guy that's worked so hard," Ottawa coach D.J. Smith said of Forsberg. "He's been waived, he's switched teams, I'm sure many a time he's wondered, 'Am I an NHL goalie? Am I going to be in the League?' And if you just stay with it, you never know when you're going to get your break."

Brian Elliott made 19 saves for the Lightning (17-6-4), who were shut out for the first time this season and had won five in a row. Elliott lost to the Senators in regulation for the first time (7-1-2).
The Lightning were 4-1-0 on a five-game road trip.
"When you're getting these road trips, whether it's three, four or five games, you've got to take more points than games played, and we did that," Tampa Bay coach Jon Cooper said. "If we lose the first game and win the next four, it's probably a way better feeling than it is right now. It [stinks] to do interviews like this right after the game. But for the big picture, those eight out of 10 [points], that's a good trip."
Josh Norris one-timed a saucer pass from Batherson to give the Senators a 1-0 lead at 12:40 of the first period.
Tkachuk scored through the five-hole on the power play to make it 2-0 at 3:32 of the second off a no-look pass from Tim Stutzle. He scored his second power-play goal of the game when he tipped a Thomas Chabot point shot to make it 3-0 at 5:31.
Tkachuk missed the first three games of the season after signing a seven-year contract as a restricted free agent Oct. 14. He was named Ottawa captain on Nov. 5 and has scored 17 points (nine goals, eight assists) in 15 games since.
"I would say probably two weeks ago, you could see his legs were under him, and then because his legs are under him his hands are now under him," Smith said. "And on top of that, he's mean, he plays with emotion and now he's making the right plays, making heavy plays, making smart plays, and he's driving us right now up front."

The Lightning were 0-for-5 on the power play.
"I think we weren't as consistent getting into the zone," Tampa Bay defenseman Ryan McDonagh said. "We were a little sloppy on our break-ins. You can give [the Senators] credit; they were gapped up well and making good reads and in good positions. If you're not able to get into the zone clean and execute well there, it's going to make it tough for you to gain the zone and get your looks going."
Tkachuk scored into an empty net to complete the natural hat trick at 16:17 of the third for the 4-0 final.
NOTES:Tkachuk became the third member of his family to score an NHL hat trick, joining brother Matthew of the Calgary Flames (one) and father Keith (10, including Stanley Cup Playoffs). … Lightning defenseman Zach Bogosian took warmups but was a late scratch. Cooper said Bogosian has been dealing with a lower-body injury sustained in a 5-3 win against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday. … Tampa Bay was shut out for the first time since May 10 (4-0 against the Florida Panthers), its regular-season finale last season.