I guess you can take the positive and say at least the Senators were in this one until the end.
After losing 5 straight by a combined score of 24-8 and not being within 3 goals by the time the dust settled in any of the last 4, a one-goal loss to the Islanders suddenly doesn't seem so bad. Alas, they matched a season-high 6 game losing streak and remained within 3 points of the Sabres for the NHL basement and the top odds at securing the first overall pick in the upcoming NHL Entry Draft.
Ottawa got goals from Matt Duchene, Erik Karlsson and Bobby Ryan, but it wasn't enough as Andrew Ladd's deflection with just over two minutes remaining was the winner.
Ryan tied the game at 3 a minute and a half earlier, when his cross ice pass attempt was deflectd in by Islanders defenseman Brandon Davidson past Jaroslav Halak.
After the Isles took an early lead on an Anders Lee rebound goal, Jean-Gabriel Pageau took a shot that knicked the leg of Duchene to tie it up, and Karlsson's one-timer gave the Sens the lead after 20 minutes.
New York struck twice in the second period to take the lead, on goals from Anthony Beauvillier and Brock Nelson.
Ryan, who has spent the last couple of games in the spot previously occupied by Mike Hoffman alonside Duchene, scored for the third straight game and had points on all 3 Ottawa goals, as did Duchene. It is his first 3 game goal streak of the season, and his second three-point game of the month.
Karlsson played more than half the game, clocking in at 30:15, playing in his second straight home contest after skipping out on the quick roadie to Carolina Monday.
Mike Condon allowed 4 goals on 31 shots, and his save percentage is dropping precariously close to the .900 mark.
The Senators host the Panthers on Thursday night in a vital game for Florida, who are still trying to reel in the Devils for the final playoff spot.