NHL: Ottawa 2, Tampa Bay 1

TAMPA, Fla., March 11 (UPI) -- Curtis McElhinney made 34 saves in his first start for Ottawa Friday, carrying the Senators to a 2-1 victory over Tampa Bay.

McElhinney was picked up off waivers from Tampa Bay Feb. 28 and he paid instant dividends for a club that is mired in last place in the Eastern Conference.

Ottawa won its third straight, getting goals from Jason Spezza and Bobby Butler.

Butler gave the Senators a 2-0 lead 53 seconds into the middle stanza and McElhinney protected it by allowing only a power-play goal to Martin St. Louis early in the third.

Tampa Bay lost for the fifth time in six games, but is still in fifth place in the East.

Dwayne Roloson stopped 20 of 22 shots for the Lightning.