Condon shuts door as Senators down Capitals

OTTAWA - Mike Condon stopped 31 shots for his fourth shutout of the season as the Ottawa Senators beat the Washington Capitals 3-0 Tuesday night.

Chris Kelly, Bobby Ryan, and Zack Smith scored for the Senators, who improved to 6-1-1 in their last eight.

Philipp Grubauer made 31 saves as the Capitals lost in regulation for the first time since Dec. 27 at the New York Islanders. They were 12-0-2 since. Washington was shut out for the third time this season, and first since a 3-0 loss to the Islanders at home on Dec. 1.

Several Washington players had point streaks end, including Alex Ovechkin's eight-game run with four goals and nine assists. Jean-Gabriel Pageau was on Ovechkin for much of the night and the Senators' diminutive center frustrated the Capitals' captain all night.

Nicklas Backstrom, playing his 700th NHL game saw his 10-game point streak (four goals, 13 assists) end.

Trailing 3-0 to start the third, the Capitals failed to create any real challenge for the Senators and were caught giving up a breakaway chance to Pageau short-handed.

Ottawa's special teams continued to be the difference in the game as Smith scored a power-play goal midway through the second as he redirected Ryan Dzingel's shot to give the Senators a 3-0 lead.

Ottawa couldn't have asked for a better start as they scored twice in the first period.

Kelly opened the scoring with a short-handed goal at 1:46. Less than three minutes later, Ryan made it 2-0 as he tipped Fredrik Claesson's shot past Grubauer.

Prior to the start of the game the Senators inducted Bryan Murray into its Ring of Honour. Murray is the first inductee. His portrait is featured on a pillar in the 300 Level of the Canadian Tire Centre.

Murray spent time as both coach and general manager with the Senators and is now a senior hockey advisor with the organization. The 74-year-old made his NHL coaching debut with the Capitals in 1981 and spent 8.5 seasons with the organization. His 343 wins remain a Capitals record.