OTTAWA, ON – Claude Giroux and Parker Kelly scored, and the Ottawa Senators beat the Chicago Blackhawks 2-0 on Thursday night for their fourth consecutive victory.
Anton Forsberg made 19 saves in his second shutout of the season and No. 5 for his career.
It was Ottawa’s first win against Chicago since Dec. 20, 2016, snapping an 11-game skid.
“Really good start; kind of set the tone for the rest of the game,” Kelly said. “Thought we did a pretty good job of just keeping them at bay, getting pucks behind them and not really letting them in our zone. Really liked our game tonight, a full 60.”
Chicago goaltender Petr Mrazek made 32 saves. The last-place Blackhawks had won two straight games.
Fans piled near the glass during warmups to see Chicago rookie Connor Bedard, but the 18-year-old center was kept off the scoresheet.
“We just didn’t match their intensity,” Chicago coach Luke Richardson said. “I think they were a step ahead of us everywhere and unfortunately we paid the price. (Mrazek) kept us in and gave us a chance to get back in the game but our power play that has been very good for us lately tonight was a little sloppy.”
The Senators were coming off a 6-2 victory at Buffalo on Wednesday night.
Ottawa held Chicago to just six shots on goal in the third as the Blackhawks pressed to beat Forsberg.
The Senators jumped out to a 2-0 lead early in the first period.
“The first period was the difference, it’s as simple as that,” Chicago forward Nick Foligno said. “We’ve had trouble with our starts. I don’t know what it is. Obviously, they were excited coming back to a sold-out rink and we just didn’t have the same energy and compete that we needed.”
Giroux scored a short-handed goal just 36 seconds into the game. It was his 20th on the season.
Kelly capitalized on a Bedard giveaway. His shot went off former Senators defenseman Nikita Zaitsev and into the net, giving him a career-high eight goals on the season.
“We got saves when we needed it, and got a short-handed goal to start it and then again some production from different people,” interim Ottawa coach Jacques Martin said. “I thought we had a pretty good game, competed well and a good result.”
Zaitsev left the game, but Richardson said he wasn’t feeling well earlier and it escalated as he played. He also added that Zaitsev has been battling an upper-body injury of late.
The Senators played without defenseman Thomas Chabot, who has a lower-body injury.
OTTAWA, ON – MARCH 28: Ottawa Senators Defenceman Tyler Kleven (43) before a face-off during first period National Hockey League action between the Chicago Blackhawks and Ottawa Senators on March 28, 2024, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire)
OTTAWA, ON – MARCH 28: Chicago Blackhawks Goalie Petr Mrazek (34) loses his mask causing play to be halted during first period National Hockey League action between the Chicago Blackhawks and Ottawa Senators on March 28, 2024, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire)
OTTAWA, ON – MARCH 28: Chicago Blackhawks Left Wing Nick Foligno (17) battles Ottawa Senators Defenceman Erik Brannstrom (26) in front of Goalie Anton Forsberg (31) during second period National Hockey League action between the Chicago Blackhawks and Ottawa Senators on March 28, 2024, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire)
OTTAWA, ON – MARCH 28: Chicago Blackhawks Center Connor Bedard (98) hops the boards during second period National Hockey League action between the Chicago Blackhawks and Ottawa Senators on March 28, 2024, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire)
OTTAWA, ON – MARCH 28: Chicago Blackhawks Right Wing Joey Anderson (15) battles Ottawa Senators Defenceman Jake Sanderson (85) during second period National Hockey League action between the Chicago Blackhawks and Ottawa Senators on March 28, 2024, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire)
OTTAWA, ON – MARCH 28: Ottawa Senators Goalie Anton Forsberg (31) after a whistle during second period National Hockey League action between the Chicago Blackhawks and Ottawa Senators on March 28, 2024, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire)
OTTAWA, ON – MARCH 28: Chicago Blackhawks Center Andreas Athanasiou (89) applies pressure on the forecheck during second period National Hockey League action between the Chicago Blackhawks and Ottawa Senators on March 28, 2024, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire)
OTTAWA, ON – MARCH 28: Ottawa Senators Defenceman Jacob Bernard-Docker (24) blocks Chicago Blackhawks Center Andreas Athanasiou (89) from going to the front of net during second period National Hockey League action between the Chicago Blackhawks and Ottawa Senators on March 28, 2024, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire)
OTTAWA, ON – MARCH 28: Linesmen Travis Toomey (90) before a face-off during third period National Hockey League action between the Chicago Blackhawks and Ottawa Senators on March 28, 2024, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire)
OTTAWA, ON – MARCH 28: Ottawa Senators Right Wing Claude Giroux (28) toss the puck to a young fan after National Hockey League action between the Chicago Blackhawks and Ottawa Senators on March 28, 2024, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire)
