OTTAWA

Senators clinch playoff spot with win over Islanders

ctvottawa.ca Published Sunday, April 1, 2012 5:18PM EDT

Ottawa Senators' Kyle Turris, right, takes a shot past New York Islanders' Andrew MacDonald during the third period of an NHL hockey game on Sunday, April 1, 2012, in Uniondale, N.Y. The Senators defeated the Islanders 5-1. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

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The Ottawa Senators' break from the playoffs will only last one season after the team clinched a post-season berth with a 5-1 road win over the New York Islanders Sunday.

Kyle Turris had two goals with two assists and Milan Michalek added a goal and two assists for the Senators, who were without captain Daniel Alfredsson (flu) and Jason Spezza (birth of his second child).

Craig Anderson was in goal for the win, his fourth straight victory since returning from a hand injury.

Mark Streit scored the only goal for the Islanders, assisted by John Tavares and Matt Moulson.

Senators forward Jesse Winchester of Long Sault returned after missing 44 games with a concussion, getting an assist on Nick Foligno's 15th of the year.

Ottawa can finish as high as second in the Eastern Conference and as low as eighth, with three games remaining.

The Senators have only missed the playoffs twice in the last 15 years.

RELATED IMAGES

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Ottawa Senators' Sergei Gonchar, right, scores a goal past New York Islanders goalie Al Montoya during the second period of the NHL hockey game on Sunday, April 1, 2012, in Uniondale, N.Y. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
New York Islanders' Al Montoya, left, defends the net while teammate Andrew MacDonald, right, and Ottawa Senators' Kyle Turris skate by during the first period of the NHL hockey game on Sunday, April 1, 2012, in Uniondale, N.Y. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)