New York, NY (Sports Network) - Nikolai Zherdev scored the lone shootout goal and the New York Rangers edged the slumping Ottawa Senators, 2-1, at Madison Square Garden.
Zherdev was the first participant, and he snapped a wrister between the pads of Alex Auld. Jason Spezza tried the same move, but was denied by Henrik Lundqvist. After Auld made a glove save on Fredrik Sjostrom, who scored in regulation for New York, Jarkko Ruutu fanned on his attempt, but the agitator decided to fire the puck at Lundqvist any way, upsetting the Rangers bench.
Auld then stopped Chris Drury, leaving Ottawa's hopes in the hands of Antoine Vermette, but his backhander was turned aside by Lundqvist, and the Rangers came away with the extra point.
Lundqvist made 27 saves for New York, which has won three straight games. The Swedish netminder has allowed two goals or fewer in his last 12 appearances.
Daniel Alfredsson was the only player to find the back of the net for the Senators, who have lost five consecutive games. Auld stopped 26-of-27 shots for Ottawa.
The Ottawa captain's first goal in 11 games opened the scoring with 3:47 remaining in the second period. Alfredsson emerged with the puck from the corner boards, drove to the middle and beat Lundqvist.
Sjostrom, though, tied the game at the 7:17 mark of the third period, lifting a rebound over the sprawled netminder. It was his first marker in 17 contests.
