Senators strike early, hand 3-1 loss to Blues

OTTAWA -- Marian Hossa scored two of Ottawa's three first-period goals, leading the Senators to a 3-1 win over the Blues on Tuesday night.

Ottawa captain Daniel Alfredsson scored his 25th goal 1:34 in and Josh Langfeld assisted on both of Hossa's goals later in the period.

The Senators, who had lost four of five, ended a season-high three-game losing streak.

Mike Danton scored midway through the third period for St. Louis, which ended an eight-game winless streak last Thursday with a 2-1 victory in Calgary. The Blues have just three points in their last 10 games (1-8-1).

Blues goalie Chris Osgood stopped just eight of the first 11 shots. Replaced by Reinhard Divis for the final 3:05 of the first period, Osgood returned for the second and stopped the final 20 shots to complete the game.

Alfredsson opened the scoring when he found the puck at his feet in a scramble in front of the net. He swiped it into the left side of the goal.

Hossa made it 2-0. He cut around Osgood across the goalmouth and used his reach to steer the puck past the goalie for his 24th goal. He used his breakaway speed moments later to put Ottawa up by three.