OTTAWA - Jason Spezza scores twice as the Ottawa Senators extended their winning streak to four games with a 5-2 win over the Atlanta Thrashers on Tuesday night.
After struggling through the first month of the season, the Senators (8-6-1) seem to have found their game.
Senators goaltender Brian Elliott, making his 11th straight start, was solid stopping 35 shots.
Ottawa also saw Chris Neil and Jesse Winchester score their first goals of the season. Sergei Gonchar also scored.
Andrew Ladd and Anthony Stewart scored power-play goals for the Thrashers (6-6-3).
Atlanta's Chris Mason started the game, but was pulled after allowing four goals on 18 shots. Ondrej Pavelec allowed one goal on 11 shots.
The Thrashers started strong, scoring a power-play goal four minutes into the first, but struggled for much of the remainder of the game.
Ottawa tied the game midway through the period as Spezza beat Mason with a quick shot shortside. Just over four minutes later the Senators took the lead with a power-play goal. Spezza won the draw and dropped it to Erik Karlsson who fed Gonchar for a one-timer past Mason.
Atlanta's best chance came late in the first as Rich Peverley caught Gonchar flat footed, but his shot caught the post and the Senators were able to clear the puck as it lay in the crease.
Neil picked up his first of the season early in the second and then Winchester made it 4-1 as he jammed the puck through traffic in the crease.
Defensively the Thrashers continue to struggle as they are dead last in the league in goals allowed and Tuesday's performance will not help the cause.
Elliott's best save of the period came after Winchester's clearing attempt deflected off Phillips' skate right to the Sens goalie.
Spezza picked up his second of the night on the power play in the opening minutes of the third period. The Thrashers replied with a power-play goal of their own as Stewart was left alone in front and caught Elliott moving.
Notes: Milan Michalek returned to the Senators lineup after missing four games due to tendinitis in his knee. . . The Senators were without D Filip Kuba (broken right leg day-to-day). D Brian Lee was a healthy scratch. . . Atlanta was without C Patrice Cormier (broken foot, indefinite), C Bryan Little (concussion, indefinite), and D Freddy Meyer (undisclosed, day-to-day).
