Francois Beauchemin scores game-winner as Maple Leafs beat Senators 3-2

Beauchemin leads Maple Leafs over Senators 3-2

TORONTO — Francois Beauchemin scored 6 minutes into the third period to break the final tie and the Toronto Maple Leafs beat the Ottawa Senators 3-2 on Monday night.

It was the Maple Leafs’ first win in three meetings this season with their provincial rival.

Phil Kessel and Jason Blake scored for Toronto.

Mike Fisher and Jason Spezza had goals for Ottawa.

Vesa Toskala made 22 saves, helping the Leafs win their fourth consecutive home game. Toskala has won four of his last five starts, including four straight at home.

Ottawa appeared to tie the game with 35 seconds left, but the referees waved off the goal when it was determined Jesse Winchester kicked the puck into the net.

Spezza pulled the Senators into the 2-2 tie with a power-play goal 1:12 into the third period. The goal was Spezza’s fifth of the season and only his second on the road.

Blake and Kessel scored in the second period around Fisher’s goal to give Toronto the 2-1 lead.

Blake opened the scoring when he tore down the right side and slid a weak backhander through Brian Elliott 2:15 into the period. Fisher whacked home a loose puck that Tomas Kaberle failed to clear from the side of the Toronto goal. The Leafs were back in the lead just 59 seconds later when Kessel scored after taking a great feed from Alexei Ponikarovsky.

NOTES: Toronto F Mikhail Grabovski had his six-game point streak snapped. … Toronto tough guy Colton Orr left the game and did not return after taking some punches from Matt Carkner during a second-period fight. … Leafs D Garnet Exelby, who had one point coming into the game, picked up two assists. … Leafs D Luke Schenn was a healthy scratch for the second straight game. … Elliott made his 12th straight start as Pascal Leclaire continues to nurse a fractured cheekbone.