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Kessel's hat trick boosts Maple Leafs over Senators

Feb 2, 2014 - 5:24 AM Toronto, ON (SportsNetwork.com) - Phil Kessel capped his fifth career hat trick with the game-winner at 14:02 of the third period as the Toronto Maple Leafs took a 6-3 win over the Ottawa Senators on Saturday.

Tyler Bozak and Nazem Kadri each had a goal and an assist while Joffrey Lupul also scored for the Maple Leafs, who have won three straight. Jonathan Bernier gave up three goals on 26 shots.

"It was a big win for us obviously and the fans were good and we found a way," said Kessel. "I've had chances in a couple games before and obviously they went in tonight."

Chris Neil posted two goals and an assist while Colin Greening also had a goal and an assist for the Senators, who had won two straight coming in. Craig Anderson allowed five goals on 36 shots.

"I felt we played hard. We gave up some chances in the second, but I thought we settled it down there in the third and got back after them," said Neil. "I don't think it's a 6-3 hockey game, that's for sure. It was pretty close back and forth."

With the score tied late in the third, Ottawa's Eric Gryba had the puck along the deep left boards and attempted to pass it behind the net, but Bozak picked up the errant pass and quickly centered it for Kessel, who snuck home a shot for his 30th of the season.

Bozak sealed the win with his goal at 18:37, and Kadri put one in the open net with 29 seconds to play.

Ottawa scored inside of a minute to play in the first period as Neil gained the line through the middle and slipped a wrister past the glove of Bernier.

It was a 2-0 game for the Senators at 6:46 of the second period, as Neil skated down the right wing and sent a saucer pass over to his left for Greening, who wristed the puck home for his fifth of the season.

Toronto, though, got one back at 13:01 as James van Riemsdyk slipped a pass from the left boards to the low right side where Kessel was waiting for the easy tap-in.

Just 1:38 later, Toronto tied the game as Kadri slammed Cody Ceci face-first into the boards behind the Ottawa net, causing a turnover and quickly throwing the puck out front where Lupul snapped it home.

The Leafs took their first lead of the game at 7:34 of the third as Kessel's quick wrister from the left circle through traffic made its way past the glove of Anderson for a power-play goal, but the Senators tied the game just 1:32 later on Neil's second of the game.

Game Notes

Toronto plays a pair of road games against Florida on Tuesday and Tampa Bay on Thursday ... Ottawa plays in Pittsburgh on Monday ... The Maple Leafs have won all three games against the Senators this season, although the other two wins came in shootouts ... Toronto went 1-for-5 on the power play, while Ottawa was 0-for-2.