Hockey roundup: Senators one point behind Wings; Simms wins third NCAA title

The Ottawa Senators are producing historic lows – for their opponents – in their push for the playoffs. Shane Pinto and Warren Foegele scored in the first two periods and the Ottawa defense held the host New York Rangers to nine shots on goal en route to a 2-1 win on Monday night. The nine shots set a franchise record for Ottawa, which became the first NHL team to permit fewer than 10 shots on goal in a game since the New Jersey Devils allowed nine to the Washington Capitals on Dec.

4, 2003. The Rangers matched the mark for fewest shots on goal in franchise history, a low first reached in 1955. The Senators (37-24-9, 83 points) moved within two points of the New York Islanders for the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference.

Ottawa also trails the Detroit Red Wings by one point, and the Atlantic Division foes face each other on Tuesday at Little Caesars Arena. Ottawa also improved to 14-3-2 in its past 19 games and 17-5-4 in its last 26, a stretch that started with sweeping the Vancouver Canucks and the Rangers in a back-to-back set Jan. 13-14.

Pinto scored late during a power play following a hooking penalty to Taylor Raddysh when he took a pass from Claude Giroux at the edge of the left circle and lifted a shot over goalie Igor Shesterkin 6:30 into the contest when the Senators took the first 11 shots on goal. Foegele scored for the third straight game and fifth time in nine games with Ottawa when he was left open at the right scored and one-timed a cross-ice pass from Lars Eller by Shesterkin 6:46 into the second. The Senators ended their latest win with four defensemen after losing Thomas Chabot and Lassi Thomson.