Batherson, Sanderson score as Senators beat Blue Jackets 3-2

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Ottawa Senators’ Jake Sanderson, left, Ridly Greig, front right, and Brady Tkachuk, top, line up for a face off against the Columbus Blue Jackets during third-period NHL hockey game action in Ottawa, Ontario, Saturday, March 29, 2025. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press via AP)

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Ottawa Senators goaltender Linus Ullmark (35) and Brady Tkachuk (7) celebrate after defeating the Columbus Blue Jackets in an NHL hockey game in Ottawa, Ontario, Saturday, March 29, 2025. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press via AP)

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Columbus Blue Jackets’ Adam Fantilli, right, reaches for the puck as Ottawa Senators’ Drake Batherson, left, looks on during third-period NHL hockey game action in Ottawa, Ontario, Saturday, March 29, 2025. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press via AP)

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Ottawa Senators’ Shane Pinto (12) passes the puck as Columbus Blue Jackets’ Kirill Marchenko (86) defends during third-period NHL hockey game action in Ottawa, Ontario, Saturday, March 29, 2025. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press via AP)

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Ottawa Senators’ Tyler Kleven (43) chases Columbus Blue Jackets’ Mathieu Olivier (24) during third-period NHL hockey game action in Ottawa, Ontario, Saturday, March 29, 2025. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press via AP)

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Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Daniil Tarasov (40) looks for the puck along with Blue Jackets’ Denton Mateychuk (5) and Ottawa Senators’ Tim Stutzle (18) during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Ottawa, Ontario, Saturday, March 29, 2025. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press via AP)

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Ottawa Senators’ Jake Sanderson, right, celebrates his goal against the Columbus Blue Jackets with Shane Pinto (12) during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Ottawa, Ontario, Saturday, March 29, 2025. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press via AP)

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Columbus Blue Jackets’ Dmitri Voronkov (10) battles for the puck with Ottawa Senators’ Shane Pinto (12) during first-period NHL hockey game action in Ottawa, Ontario, Saturday, March 29, 2025. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press via AP)

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Ottawa Senators’ Ridly Greig (71) celebrates after his goal as he skates past the Columbus Blue Jackets bench during first-period NHL hockey game action in Ottawa, Ontario, Saturday, March 29, 2025. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press via AP)

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Columbus Blue Jackets’ Erik Gudbranson (44) and Ottawa Senators’ Brady Tkachuk (7) battle for the puck in front of Blue Jackets goaltender Daniil Tarasov (40) during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Ottawa, Ontario, Saturday, March 29, 2025. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press via AP)

OTTAWA, Ontario (AP) — Drake Batherson and Jake Sanderson scored for Ottawa and the Senators beat the Columbus Blue Jackets 3-2 on Saturday night in a matchup of teams vying for playoff spots.

Ridly Greig had a goal and an assist as Ottawa won for the third time in four games and strengthened its hold on the first wild card in the Eastern Conference. Linus Ullmark had 29 saves.

Boone Jenner and Kirill Marchenko scored for Columbus, which was coming off a 7-6 shootout win over Vancouver the previous night. Daniil Tarasov finished with 24 saves.

The Blue Jackets remained tied with Montreal, now two points behind the Rangers for the second wild card in the East after New York beat San Jose later Saturday night.

Marchenkov pulled the Blue Jackets to 3-2, beating Ullmark five-hole midway through the third to silence a boisterous Ottawa crowd.

The Senators took a 3-1 lead in the second when Tarasov stopped Shane Pinto before Sanderson got a piece of the rebound.

Greig opened the scoring deftly tipping Thomas Chabot’ point shot. Columbus tied it 31 seconds later with Jenner burying the rebound of Zach Werenski’s shot.

Batherson regained the lead for the Senators by grabbing the rebound of Dylan Cozens’ shot and sweeping it under Tarasov for his 21st of the season.

Takeaways

Senators: Ottawa had a strong net front presence and it paid off. The Senators have a firm grip on the first wild card in the Eastern Conference.

Blue Jackets: Despite playing the night before, Columbus never let up and making it a one-goal game with 9 minutes left in the third.

Key moment

Ullmark made a save on Dmitri Voronkov in the final minute of the first that proved to be crucial.

Key stat

Ottawa’s Shane Pinto played his 200th NHL game Saturday and picked up his 100th point with an assist on Sanderson’s goal in the second period.

Up next

Blue Jackets host Nashville on Tuesday, and Senators visit Pittsburgh on Sunday.

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AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl