OTTAWA, Ontario _ A matchup against the reeling Senators, who had won only one of their last 13 games and had just played the night before, seemed like the perfect way for the Rangers to bounce back from their Monday dud against Dallas.
Instead the Rangers dropped their second straight game by falling to Ottawa, 3-2, Wednesday night at the Canadian Tire Centre.
The Senators needed only eight seconds at the start of the third period to double their lead and score what turned out to be the decisive goal, Zack Smith scoring right in front and J.T. Miller behind him, putting them up 3-1.
At 4:40 Pavel Buchnevich pulled the Blueshirts back to within one, easily burying a Chris Kreider slot pass after Kreider managed to stay on his feet while nearly being tripped by Johnny Oduya.
Cody Ceci put the Senators up 2-1 at 15:08 of the second after Brendan Smith lost his stick near the blue line, tried to defend the shot and possibly screened Henrik Lundqvist.
Michael Grabner's team-best 15th goal had tied the game 3:57 into the second. Ryan McDonagh fed Mats Zuccarello up the right wing, and Zuccarello made a perfect pass to an oncoming Grabner at the far post for a tip-in.
Ottawa capitalized on a Kevin Shattenkirk turnover to go ahead at 4:01 of the first, Bobby Ryan scoring just his second goal of the season on the team's third shot of the game.
