OTTAWA, Ontario — By the time the Ducks found their game legs Wednesday night, they were down by three goals.
Drake Batherson had three goals and an assist, and the Ottawa Senators pounced on the Ducks early and handed them their fourth consecutive loss, 5-1.
Brady Tkachuk had a goal and an assist, and Noah Gregor also scored for the Senators, who won for the third time in their past four games. Linus Ullmark stopped 31 shots.
Cutter Gauthier scored for the Ducks, and John Gibson finished with 29 saves. Leo Carlsson returned to the lineup after missing six games.
Gregor opened the scoring for the Senators at 2:55 of the first period, scoring on their first shot of the game.
Ottawa then capitalized on a lengthy two-man advantage when Batherson scored his 100th career goal. The puck disappeared under a sprawling Gibson. It was declared a goal after a video review.
Batherson made it 3-0 with his second power-play goal of the night and completed the hat trick midway through the second.
He picked up an assist on Tkachuk’s power-play goal midway through the third to make it 5-0.
Gauthier spoiled Ullmark’s shutout bid with his fourth of the season with 7:18 remaining.
Already killing a holding penalty, the Ducks took a delay of game minor to give Ottawa a two-man advantage for almost two minutes. The Senators capitalized for a 2-0 lead.
The Ducks have struggled at home (5-9-1), but they had gone 4-0-2 in their previous six on the road.
Special teams were the difference as Ottawa went 3 for 5 on the power play and 5 for 5 on the penalty kill.
UP NEXT
The Ducks visit Toronto on Thursday at 4 p.m. PT.