TORONTO – Phil Kessel had a goal and two assists to help the Toronto Maple Leafs hold off the Ottawa Senators 5-4 on Wednesday night in the latest installment of the Battle of Ontario.
Tyler Bozak and James van Riemsdyk each had a goal and an assist for the Maple Leafs, who built leads of 3-0 and 5-2 before Ottawa scored twice in the final 8 minutes.
Toronto moved two points ahead of the Senators for fifth place in the Eastern Conference halfway through the season, shortened to 48 games by the NHL lockout. The teams entered tied for third in the Northeast Division.
Jay McClement and Nazem Kadri also scored for the Maple Leafs.
Mika Zibanejad, Zack Smith, Daniel Alfredsson and Colin Greening had the goals for Ottawa, which dropped to 3-7-2 on road. The Senators are 9-1-2 at home.
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