OTTAWA, Ontario — By the time the Ducks found their game legs on Wednesday night, they were down by three goals.
Drake Batherson had three goals and an assist, and the Ottawa Senators pounced on the Ducks early and handed them their fourth consecutive loss, 5-1.
Brady Tkachuk had a goal and an assist, and Noah Gregor also scored for the Senators, who won for the third time in their past four games. Linus Ullmark stopped 31 shots.
Cutter Gauthier scored for the Ducks, and John Gibson finished with 29 saves. Leo Carlsson returned to the lineup after missing six games with an upper-body injury.
The Ducks surrendered a goal in the opening three minutes for the second straight game when Gregor scored at 2:55 of the first period, the Senators’ first shot of the game. Ducks defenseman Cam Fowler blocked Nick Jensen’s shot from above the right circle, but Gregor swept the rebound into the net.
The Ducks committed minor penalties (holding and delay of game) five seconds apart later in the period to give Ottawa a two-man advantage for nearly two minutes. The Senators scored on the 5-on-3 for a 2-0 lead at 11:15. Batherson celebrated his 100th career goal as Gibson laid on the puck in the crease, but the goal wasn’t rewarded until a video review showed it crossed the goal line beneath a sprawling Gibson.
Batherson made it 3-0 when he was credited with his second power-play goal of the night. He tried to make a short pass to Tim Stutzle, but it hit Fowler’s skate and was redirected into his own net to extend Ottawa’s lead to 3-0 at 18:25 of the first period.
Batherson completed his second NHL hat trick when his point shot went off the stick of Fowler and into his own net for a 4-0 lead at 10:30 of the second period.
He picked up an assist when Tkachuk scored the third power-play goal of the game on a redirection from in close to make it 5-0 at 8:58 of the third.
Gauthier spoiled Ullmark’s shutout bid when he scored his fourth goal of the season on a tip-in with 7:18 remaining.
The Ducks have struggled at home (5-9-1), but they had gone 4-0-2 in their previous six on the road.
Special teams were the difference as Ottawa went 3 for 5 on the power play and 5 for 5 on the penalty kill.
Carlsson did not have a shot on goal in 13:35 of ice time while centering the second line.
The Ducks visit Toronto on Thursday at 4 p.m. PT.
