Senators’ defense spurs offense in win vs. Avalanche

Ottawa used its defense to spur its offense Wednesday as the six defensemen tallied seven assists in the Senators' 5-2 home victory over the Colorado Avalanche.

Tim Stutzle had a goal and an assist, while Ridly Greig, Nick Cousins, Claude Giroux and Brady Tkachuk also scored. Blueliner Artem Zub finished with two assists, while Thomas Chabot, Jake Sanderson, Tyler Kleven, Jordan Spence, and Nick Jensen also finished with assists.

James Reimer only needed to stop 16 shots as the Avalanche mustered a season-worst 18 shots, five fewer than their previous low.

Parker Kelly tallied his 11th of the season for Colorado, which fell for the third time in four games, and Valeri Nichushkin scored for the first time since he got a hat trick on New Year's Eve. Brock Nelson assisted to give him points in six of his last seven contests, while Jack Drury and Keaton Middleton also set up scores.

Mackenzie Blackwood stopped 18 shots for the Avalanche.

Ottawa's first three goals came in a similar fashion, with lengthy passes from the defensive zone leading to rush opportunities.

Cousins put the Senators up with 16:39 left in the second. He hovered around the blue line after starting a shift, behind the Avalanche defensemen. Zub spotted him, and Josh Manson could not catch up.

Colorado was held to just five shots on goal through the first 30 minutes, but Kelly tied the game with 5:55 remaining in the second.

However, that lead was short-lived as Kleven sailed the puck from the Senators' goal line to the opposite end of the ice. It bounced straight off the wall and right to Greig for the quick response.

Giroux doubled the lead with 17:54 remaining, but Nichushkin got his 12th of the season less than 90 seconds later, taking advantage of a Giroux giveaway in the Senators' end.

Colorado pulled Blackwood with 3:48 remaining. Tkachuk and Stutzle provided empty-netters to secure Ottawa's second straight win over a division leader.