Senators top Rangers 2-0, take 3-2 series lead

By Ira Podell

Associated Press

Published: Saturday, April 21 2012 8:04 p.m. MDT

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Ottawa Senators' Jason Spezza, left, scores a goal against New York Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist, of Sweden, during the first period of Game 5 of an NHL Stanley Cup first-round hockey playoff series, Saturday, April 21, 2012, at New York's Madison Square Garden.

Bill Kostroun, Associated Press

Summary

Craig Anderson stopped 41 shots to make Jason Spezza's first-period goal stand up, and the Ottawa Senators pushed the top-seeded New York Rangers to the brink of elimination with a 2-0 victory Saturday night in Game 5.

NEW YORK — Craig Anderson stopped 41 shots to make Jason Spezza's first-period goal stand up, and the Ottawa Senators pushed the top-seeded New York Rangers to the brink of elimination with a 2-0 victory Saturday night in Game 5.

The Senators, the No. 8 seed in the Eastern Conference, have won two straight and will have a chance to knock out the Rangers on Monday night in Ottawa. If New York can stay alive, the deciding Game 7 would be back at Madison Square Garden on Thursday night.

Spezza added insurance by scoring an empty-net goal with 55.3 seconds remaining, and Anderson was perfect in earning his second career NHL playoff shutout. He stood tall in the third period when the Rangers pressed for the tying goal. Since New York took a 2-0 lead in the first period of its 3-2 overtime loss in Game 4, Anderson has gone 116 minutes, 32 seconds without allowing a goal.

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