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Erik Karlsson nets winner as Ottawa Senators edge New York Rangers in Game 1

By Don Brennan, The Sports Xchange

OTTAWA -- Erik Karlsson's shot from the goal line with 4:11 left in the third period snuck past Henrik Lundqvist to give the Ottawa Senators a 2-1 victory over the New York Rangers on Thursday night at Canadian Tire Centre.

The Senators took a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference semifinal. Game 2 is set for Saturday afternoon.

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Lundqvist, who stopped 41 shots, left just enough space for Karlsson to squeeze a high shot past him from the right-wing corner boards.

Senators goalie Craig Anderson made 34 saves, beaten only by Ryan McDonagh in the second period.

Ryan Dzingel had the Senators' other goal.

McDonagh's first of the playoffs came on the power play at 7:10 of the second period. After taking a pass from Mats Zuccarello, the Rangers captain fired a wrist shot that appeared to change directions before flying past Anderson, who was at least distracted by Chris Kreider in front.

Dzingel tied the score with his first of the postseason with the Senators owning a man advantage at the 18:39 mark of the period. Dzingel whipped home the rebound into an empty side after Lundqvist made a big stop on Kyle Turris.

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The goal came on the Senators' 33rd shot.

Lundqvist was exceptional in the scoreless first period, stopping 21 shots while the Rangers tested Anderson 12 times.

NOTES: Senators LW Tom Pyatt is almost ready to return from an injury he sustained in the first-round series against the Boston Bruins. Ottawa made a last-minute decision to give him one more game to recover. ... The Senators scratched D Chris Wideman, who played five games against Boston. ... Among the Rangers; scratches were LW Tanner Glass and LW Matt Puempel, a former Senator. ... The Rangers also scratched D Kevin Klein and C Brandon Pirri. ... When Senators LW Clarke MacArthur got a shot on goal early in the third, it left rookie D Ben Harpur as the only Ottawa player without a shot on goal in the game.

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