Ehrhoff's late goal gives Penguins 3-2 win over Senators

Pittsburgh Penguins' Evgeni Malkin (71) scores a goal past Ottawa Senators goalie Craig Anderson (41) during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Pittsburgh Saturday, Dec. 6, 2014.(AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar (The Associated Press)

Pittsburgh Penguins' Brandon Sutter, right, deflects a shot by Penguins' Olli Maatta over the shoulder of Ottawa Senators goalie Craig Anderson (41) for a second-period goal during an NHL hockey game in Pittsburgh, Saturday, Dec. 6, 2014. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) (The Associated Press)

PITTSBURGH – Christian Ehrhoff scored with 1:50 remaining in the third period to give the Pittsburgh Penguins a 3-2 win over the Ottawa Senators on Saturday.

With the win, the Penguins avoided losing consecutive games in regulation this season and lifted their record against Atlantic Division teams to 8-0-1.

Evgeni Malkin and Brandon Sutter also scored for Pittsburgh. Milan Michalek and Mike Zibanejad scored for the Senators.

The loss was Ottawa's fifth in a row. The Senators, 1-6-1 in their past eight games, were coming off a 2-1 loss at home Thursday against the New York Islanders that included an emotional retirement ceremony for longtime Ottawa captain Daniel Alfredsson.

Just out of the penalty box after serving a roughing minor, Malkin caught up to the puck in front of the Ottawa bench. He cut in from the left point and tucked the puck behind the right skate of Senators goaltender Craig Anderson for the only goal of the first period and a 1-0 Pittsburgh lead.

Malkin's full-body follow-through took him into Anderson, who seemed dazed and got some attention but remained in the game.

Later in the first period, Penguins forward Zach Sill was escorted off the ice on a game misconduct after he leveled Ottawa's Kyle Turris in the neutral zone, then fought Senators forward Alex Chiasson.

There was no immediate word on whether Sill might face a disciplinary hearing with the NHL for the high hit. Turris returned to the game shortly after the hit.

At 1:13 of the second period, Michalek tied it for Ottawa 1-1 during a power play when he deflected a shot from the left point by Erik Karlsson past Pittsburgh goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury.

Zibanejad shrugged off close coverage by the Penguins' Andrew Ebbett and threw the puck between Fleury's pads for a 2-1 lead at 8:44.

Near the end of the second period, Sutter tipped a shot by Olli Maatta past Anderson during a Pittsburgh power play to tie it 2-2 at 18:03.

NOTES: Winger Patric Hornqvist, who is still being evaluated for a possible concussion, did not play. The Penguins also were without injured defenseman Kris Letang, injured forward Chris Kunitz, Beau Bennett and Pascal Dupuis, and suspended defenseman Robert Bortuzzo. ... Forward Craig Adams established a Penguins record by playing in his 314th consecutive game.