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Have you noticed? Ottawa’s starting to win some games

Mark Stone,

Ottawa Senators’ Mark Stone celebrates after scoring against the Montreal Canadiens during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Montreal, Saturday, Jan. 4, 2014. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Graham Hughes)

AP

The Ottawa Senators overcame a barrage of injuries to make the playoffs in 2013. But for a variety of reasons, the wins have been harder to come by this season. Until lately.

On Saturday, the Sens won their fourth straight (and fifth in six) with a 4-3 overtime victory in Montreal. With another two points, they moved to within two points of a wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference, putting further pressure on a pair of struggling teams, Toronto and Detroit.

“The goal is to be in the playoffs at the end of the season,” said goalie Craig Anderson, per Sens Extra.

“That’s been our goal since Day 1. Obviously we didn’t play the first half the way we wanted to, but things right now are starting to go in our favor. We’re working hard at it.

“We’re getting better every day. If you worry about what you can control, and that’s how we work and how we play, the end result, if we keep winning games, usually you end up in the playoffs because you’re winning more games than you’re losing.”

So good last season, Anderson’s numbers have fallen dramatically in 2013-14, from a save percentage of .941 to .904. But he’s been better lately, with five straight victories to show for it.

And according to coach Paul MacLean, “We’re not spending as much time in our own zone, or turning over as many pucks as we did earlier in the year, which makes it a little easier to manage momentum.”

The Sens have a tough game Wednesday in Colorado, followed by two more road contests in Nashville and Minnesota.