Norris lifts Senators past Giroux-less Flyers

OTTAWA — For 40-some minutes there was a whole lot of nothing going on. How quickly things change.

Josh Norris scored the winning goal midway through the third period Friday as the Ottawa Senators defeated the Philadelphia Flyers 3-1 and snapped a three-game losing streak.

A slapshot from Norris beat Martin Jones at 9:16 for a 2-1 lead while the Senators were on the power play.

"I guess I just like that area of the ice and for some reason pucks just seem to go in," Norris said, about the fact that most of his power-play goals come from the same spot.

"My job's easy, the guys just slide me the puck and I shoot it and hope it goes in, and lately it’s been going in so it’s a good feeling."

Tim Stutzle scored in the first period to give the Senators (22-34-5) a 1-0 lead and Anton Forsberg made 27 saves for the win, many of those big and in the dying minutes with the Flyers pressing hard.

Alex Formento iced the win when he scored shorthanded into an empty net from behind his own goal line with 2:38 to play.

The lone Flyers’ goal came off the stick of Cam Atkinson. Jones made 32 saves for the Flyers (19-31-11) in a solid but losing effort.

"Forsberg made some really, really good saves. Sometimes you have to tip your cap. I think it came down to execution," Atkinson said, before turning his thoughts to his own netmnder.

"He played great for us. Their first couple goals were absolute snipes. He kept us in the game all night and gives us a chance to win. That’s what you need out of our goalies, and they’ve certainly been doing that for us as of late."

Stutzle was a game-time decision after getting a little banged up in their previous game, but was excited to get in against the Flyers.

"Yesterday I didn’t feel real good and today