Senators top Stars, 7-4

Kari Lehtonen initially subbed in for Niemi after the Senators’ third goal. “Just a little disappointed when we were up 5-1 that we let off a little bit and gave them some opportunities”.

At the other end, Anderson made 10 saves but didn’t have to make any followup stops as pucks were either cleared or veered out of harm’s way. But the Senators would prevail with a pair of goals, including one on the power play.

The Sens had no fore-check, no transition game, and no real puck possession to speak of as their poor Corsi numbers continued true to their form so far this season, but the Stars made unforced error after unforced error that ended up in the back of the net behind multiple Dallas netminders en-route to an ugly loss to send them to Thanksgiving.

Ottawa doubled its lead when Michalek scored his fifth of the season 1:11 before the first intermission.

Right winger Mark Stone had a goal and two assists and right winger Bobby Ryan and left winger Milan Michalek also contributed goals.

Patrick Sharp seemed to have the Stars headed in the right direction in the second period when his slapper beat Chad Anderson to cut things to one. Moments later, Tyler Seguin scored on a wicked wrist shot to make it a 5-3 game.

The Senators’ Mike Hoffman also had two goals, one into an empty net, on his 26th birthday. Dallas has won five in a row and brings an 8-2-0 record for the month of November into this game. Ryan took the puck away from Dallas’ John Klingberg in the left faceoff circle, skated in front of Niemi and tucked the puck into the right corner. Stone kicked the puck to Pageau, who passed it to Michalek.

The move appeared to invigorate the Ducks, who got a power-play goal from Perry at 12:07 and tied it at 16:31 when Rakell deked past Flames defenseman Dougie Hamilton before lifting a backhander over Ramo.

In the second, Stone intercepted a pass from the Stars’ Patrick Eaves at the blue line, stepped to the top of the slot and scored on a wrist shot for a 3-1 lead at 12:33. Niemi would finish with five goal allowed on 16 shots faced. However, Niemi had to re-enter the game 1:05 into the third after Lehtonen was injured during a collision with Klingberg. Pageau scored his short-handed breakaway goal on a shot that trickled between the Niemi’s legs.

“He’ll be evaluated (Wednesday)”, Ruff said of Lehtonen. Stars D Jason Demers (lower body), LW Travis Moen and D Patrik Nemeth were scratched.

“We played last year’s hockey and got last year’s results”, Stars coach Lindy Ruff said.

They will look to shake it off come Friday when the Vancouver Canucks visit town.

They did here on Tuesday, as the Senators won a wild one 7-4 against one of the NHL’s hottest teams.