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BOX SCORE
KANATA, Ontario (AP) -- The Ottawa Senators were in need of a win as the regular season comes to a close. They got one against a Washington Capitals team that is suddenly struggling.
Patrick Lalime stopped 19 shots for his third shutout this season and Ottawa captain Daniel Alfredsson scored twice as the Senators beat the Capitals 4-0 Tuesday night.
|  | | Wade Redden and the Senators dumped Ulf Dahlen's high-flying Capitals at home. |
The Senators won for just the fourth time in 10 games and just returned from an 0-3 road trip. Ottawa set a franchise record with its 23rd home victory before 16,902 fans at the Corel Centre.
"The most important thing is to be playing well going into the playoffs," Alfredsson said. "It showed we can play against one of the best teams in the league ... a possible playoff opponent. This was a great game after a poor road trip. We were solid all over the ice tonight.
"It was a picture perfect game for us from start to finish."
Rookie Petr Schastlivy -- with his first NHL goal -- and Joe Juneau also scored for the Senators, who remained in sixth place in the Eastern Conference.
The Southeast Division-leading Capitals wasted an opportunity to tie New Jersey atop the conference. Both teams have two games remaining. Washington, which has the league's best record (30-10-4-1) since Jan. 1, lost for the third time in four games.
"I don't know if we understand the urgency," Capitals coach Ron Wilson said. "Basically, we're giving up home ice here. Our defense was awful. Some guys just don't get it. They didn't show up tonight."
Tom Barrasso was scheduled to make his eighth start in the Senators' goal in nine games, but bruised his left index finger when he was hit on the first warmup shot by Kevin Dineen.
"I'm going for X-rays," Barrasso said. "I can't make any predictions. I'm not a doctor."
Lalime improved to 18-13-3.
"It may be better to just get thrown in there," Lalime said. "It was fun."
Craig Billington, a former Ottawa goalie, started for Washington and withstood a couple of flurries early in a scoreless first period.
Schastlivy, 20, called up from Grand Rapids of the IHL last Thursday, scored at 9:17 of the second. Marian Hossa found the Russian left-wing with a pass from the boards and Schastlivy deked Billington.
Alfredsson scored on a power play with 41 seconds left in the period. He one-timed Sami Salo's pass, beating Billington from the left faceoff circle.
Ottawa outshot Washington 21-7 in the middle period.
Alfredsson scored his 20th goal just 39 seconds into the third. Juneau added a one-timer from the edge of the crease at 3:17.
The Senators improved to 23-11-5-2 at home.
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ALSO SEE
NHL Scoreboard
Washington Clubhouse
Ottawa Clubhouse
RECAPS
Ottawa 4
Washington 0
Philadelphia 5
Atlanta 3
Tampa Bay 5
Boston 4
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Rookie Petr Schastlivy scores his first NHL goal.
avi: 849 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Daniel Alfredsson converts a one-timer for his first goal of the night.
avi: 813 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Patrick Lalime makes a great save to keep his shutout going.
avi: 824 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
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