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Fisher fuels Senators past Lightning

Mar 12, 2009 - 3:51 AM OTTAWA (Ticker) -- Mike Fisher scored 2:38 into overtime as the Ottawa Senators recorded their season-high fourth straight victory on Wednesday, a 3-2 triumph over the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Ryan Shannon netted a power-play goal, Chris Kelly added a shorthanded tally and captain Daniel Alfredsson and defenseman Chris Phillips each notched two assists for Ottawa, which finished its eight-game homestand with a 5-2-1 mark.

"It was a good game and nice to get the win," Fisher said. "It keeps us on a roll. We are doing the little things and grinding it out."

"We'll take the points," Senators coach Cory Clouston said. "It was a pretty ugly game, but we found a way to win the game."

Senators rookie Brian Elliott turned aside 22 shots to improve to 11-4-3.

Defenseman Cory Murphy and Adam Hall netted a power-play goal apiece and Karri Ramo made 24 saves for Tampa Bay, which fell to 0-2-2 in its last four games.

"Both teams haven't been winning, so I think both coaches were stressing good defense and responsibility - and I think that's why it was a tight game," Lightning interim coach Rick Tocchet said.

In overtime, Phillips wristed a shot on goal that was denied by Ramo, but Fisher alertly tapped the loose puck past the netminder to send the Scotiabank Place faithful - and companion Carrie Underwood - home happy.

"It's good to get one late," Fisher said. "Alfredsson made a nice play to Phillips, and he got a shot away. I just crashed the net and got it in."

"We fought hard and we played a pretty good game," Ramo said. "We were there, and a bad bounce went in. We took a step in the right direction."

Jason Spezza nearly gave Ottawa a 3-2 lead with 4:58 remaining in the third period, but officials deemed the 25-year-old center used a distinct kicking motion to knock the puck into the net.

After Murphy opened the scoring 2:37 into the game with a blast from just inside the blue line, Shannon leveled the contest just over two minutes later as his sharp-angle shot sailed past Ramo and under the crossbar for a power-play goal.

"We have a good win streak, but our game isn't perfect," Shannon said. "It feels like there is a more positive vibe in here."

With his team shorthanded midway through the second period, Alfredsson skated into the offensive zone and fed Kelly, who deflected the puck past Ramo for his ninth goal of the season and third in 23 games.

Hall quieted the crowd by answering just 13 seconds later, knotting the game at 2-2.