Parenteau scores in 7th shootout round to give Rangers 2-1 win over Senators

Parenteau gives Rangers shootout win

OTTAWA — Pierre Parenteau scored the deciding goal in the seventh round of the shootout to give the New York Rangers a 2-1 victory over the Ottawa Senators on Saturday.

Parenteau, who missed a shot at an open net late in regulation, put a shot into the top right corner on New York’s seventh attempt against Brian Elliott.

Henrik Lundqvist stopped five Ottawa shooters, including Milan Michalek on the Senators’ seventh and final attempt.

Vinny Prospal scored a short-handed goal midway through the second for New York, which had lost two in a row.

Brian Lee opened the scoring with his second of the season earlier in the middle period for Ottawa. The Senators have lost two straight and five of seven.

The Rangers finished the extra period short-handed after Ales Kotalik was sent off for tripping Milan Michalek 3:37 into overtime.

New York’s Ryan Callahan blocked consecutive point shots by Daniel Alfredsson during the ensuing 4-on-3 power-play. Faced with an opportunity at an open net moments later, the Senators captain fanned on a swipe at a bouncing puck off the end boards.

Lundqvist made 35 saves in his second straight start after missing two games because of a lower body injury.

Elliott stopped 27 shots in his first appearance in six games.

Rangers captain Chris Drury missed his second game in a row. Drury sustained a concussion one week earlier on a hit to the head by Curtis Glencross in a 3-1 loss in Calgary that went unpenalized in the game, but drew the Flames forward a three-game suspension from the league on Monday.

After a scoreless opening period, Ottawa outshot New York 17-7 in the second, yet remained in a 1-1 tie after the two teams each scored once in the middle period.

Lee finished off a nice passing play with Chris Kelly and Jarkko Ruutu for his second goal 4:29 into the second.

Kelly carried the puck into Rangers’ zone and dished off to Ruutu on the left side. The pesky Finn fed a return pass to the slot where Lee was left alone to drive a slap shot under Lundqvist’s right pad.

Prospal teamed up with Marian Gaborik to draw the Rangers even at 1 with a short-handed goal 10:58 into the second. Prospal finished off a 2-on-1 when he redirected Gaborik’s centering pass beyond Elliott into an open left side, ending a personal seven-game goal drought.

Both teams survived close calls late in regulation. Chris Higgins hit the post and Parenteau put a shot over an open net on a Rangers power play after the Senators were called for too many men 14:51 into the third.

Lundqvist stopped Ottawa’s Chris Neil from in close with less than 1 minute remaining after Rangers defenseman Marc Staal turned over the puck behind his own net.

NOTES: Kotalik and Prospal also scored for New York in the shootout. Alfredsson and Jason Spezza scored for Ottawa. … Prospal’s goal was the Rangers’ third short-handed effort of the season and their first since Oct. 11, when Dan Girardi scored short-handed in a 3-0 win over Anaheim. … Senators G Pacal Leclaire is 2-3-1 with a 3.55 goals-against average in his last seven starts, including Thursday’s 5-1 loss in Philadelphia.