Senators crush Capitals for 3rd straight win

Josh Norris scored twice in his season debut and the Ottawa Senators beat the visiting Washington Capitals 6-1 on Wednesday night for their third straight win.

Vladimir Tarasenko, Claude Giroux and Jake Sanderson each had a goal and an assist for the Senators. Tim Stutzle had three assists and Anton Forsberg made 23 saves.

Norris, who had not played since Jan. 21 due to a shoulder injury, played 16:34 in his first game back.

John Carlson scored and Darcy Kuemper made 23 saves for Washington. The Capitals continued their early-season scoring struggles and have three goals in three games.

Alex Ovechkin was held without a shot on goal for the second straight game for the first time in his career. However, he did have an assist.

Tarasenko gave the Senators a 1-0 lead at 4:28 of the first period when he took a pass from Ridly Greig behind the Washington defense and beat Kuemper from in close.

The Capitals had several very good scoring chances early on, but Forsberg came up with saves on all of them.

Norris made it 2-0 at 12:29 of the first when he knocked in a backhand pass across the crease from Drake Batherson on a power play.

The Capitals pulled within 2-1 at 18:54 when Carlson grabbed a loose puck and scored on a snap shot from the slot.

Ottawa increased its lead to 3-1 at 1:47 of the second period. Dominik Kubalik forced a Washington turnover behind its own net and Batherson passed in front to Norris, who scored from between the circles.

Artem Zub made it 4-1 when his one-time blast from the center point deflected off the post and in at 4:47.

Giroux increased the lead to 5-1 at 15:47 when he knocked in his own rebound after a cross-ice pass from Thomas Chabot. The Capitals challenged the goal, saying the Senators were offside entering the zone, but after a lengthy review, the goal was allowed.

Sanderson closed out the scoring with a wrist shot from the high slot at 11:48 of the third period.