(Sports Network) - The Ottawa Senators are making comebacks a habit, including a big one last night to stretch their winning streak to five straight games. Jameel McClain Womens Jersey . The Toronto Maple Leafs have certainly seen how resilient the Sens can be. The two Northeast Division residents square off for the second time this year and first at Ottawas Scotiabank Place. The Senators have twice come back to win after trailing going into the third period. They were down by three goals with 11:55 to play last night versus New York, but Jason Spezza netted a pair of tallies -- including one on a power play after Daniel Alfredsson was hurt on a hit to the head -- and Milan Michalek forced overtime on his goal with 2:50 left in regulation. Michalek then scored the game-winner in the shootout, lifting the Sens to a 5-4 win over the Rangers. Spezza, meanwhile, ran his point streak to six straight games and he has six goals and five assists in that span. "Weve come back a few times this season and its great," said Michalek. "It shows strength in our team. We stayed patient with it and kept going." Chris Neil also scored, Filip Kuba matched a career high with three assists and Craig Anderson posted 24 saves for the Senators, who had lost five of six prior to this win streak, their longest since a six-game run from March 22- April 1, 2010. Part of Ottawas early hole came in the second when the Rangers scored twice following a major boarding call and ejection to Zenon Konopka. "Were learning to handle adversity," Senators head coach Paul MacLean said. "Some nights we do it well and some nights we dont do it well, but a big part of our foundation is playing hard for 60 minutes. Weve been getting rewarded for doing that the last few games." Ottawa may have some adversity tonight if Alfredssons head injury keeps him out of the game. He scored twice in the Senators 6-5 road loss to the Maple Leafs on Oct. 8, a game in which they trailed 4-0 after the second period. Alfredssons second goal got Ottawa to within 5-4, but Torontos Phi Kessel finished off his hat trick with 2:19 to go. It was Torontos eighth victory in its past 11 games with Ottawa and it has taken two straight and four of its last five in Canadas capital city. Kessels hat trick has bee part of an outstanding start to the season for the forward. He leads the NHL with 10 goals and 18 assists, netting the deciding goal in the third period in last nights 4-3 win over visiting Pittsburgh. Mikhail Grabovski, Tim Connolly and Clarke MacArthur each had a goal for the Maple Leafs, who have won two straight and moved to 5-0-1 at home this year. However, they are just 2-2-0 on the road and open a three-game swing tonight. Toronto has had handful of players step up early this year and head coach Ron Wilson pointed out defenseman Dion Phaneufs game last night. The blueliner had two assists in a team-high 27 minutes and 23 seconds of ice time and is among the league leaders with a plus-7 rating. "Personally, I think by a country mile hes the best defenseman in the league," Wilson said. "Its not even close right now. His numbers show that, his plus-minus. We chart scoring chances and his numbers are off the chart there. I think hes comfortable in his own skin, hes comfortable being the captain and hes healthy." Jonas Gustavsson was also impressive last night in net for the Maple Leafs. He made 34 saves, including 16 in the third period. "Hes given us a chance to win. Hes made the saves when we needed them and today was no different," Phaneuf said. "I thought he did a really good job for us again." Gustavsson has started the past three games with James Reimer nursing a head/neck injury. Jameel McClain Giants Jersey . PAUL, Minn. Phil McConkey Womens Jersey . Hell be hard-pressed to match an unbeaten streak like this, though. Tanaka had his unbeaten regular-season run snapped at 42 starts, allowing a career-high four runs in six innings, and the Chicago Cubs beat the New York Yankees 6-1 on Tuesday night. ARLINGTON, Texas -- The dissatisfaction Texas Rangers general manager Jon Daniels feels about the team missing the playoffs is no reflection of how he regards manager Ron Washington. While the Rangers arent in the playoffs for the first time in four years, Daniels said Thursday that he feels "as strong about" Washington as he ever has. Washington has only next season remaining on his contract, but Daniels plans to sit down with him to discuss that situation. Texas has averaged more than 91 wins a year the past five seasons and made its only two World Series appearances in that span. Asked if it was a fair assumption Washington would get a contract extension, Daniels replied, "That would be my preference." The GM said he hadnt yet had an opportunity to speak with ownership about that. During more than 45 minutes discussing the season, Daniels also acknowledged that major league strikeout leader Yu Darvish (13-9, 277 strikeouts) dealt with a nerve issue in his lower back for than a month at the end of the season. The pitcher had an injection Wednesday and was flying home to Japan for about a month. The Rangers expect him to be fully healthy by next spring. For the second year in a row since their AL championship seasons in 2010 and 2011, the Rangers were done after losing a must-win game in their 163rd game. They lost in the first AL wild-card game at home last year and this week missed the playoffs with 91 wins after losing at home to Tampa Bay in the majors first wild-card tiebreaker game since 2007. "On one hand, weve averaged over 90 wins the last five years, weve had a lot of success organizationally, a lot of individuals having a lot of success. ... Were in the middle of what we feel is a tremendous run," Daniels said. "At the same time, one-and-done is not good enough. Its two years in a row weve been in this spot, and it hurts. I can tell you we want more." Daniels had just completed his first year as GM when he fired Buck Showalter after the 2006 season and replaced him with the longtime Oakland third-base coach who then had no major league managerial experience. Washington now is the teams winningest manager (611-522) after seven seasons. Odell Beckham Jr Womens Jersey. "To the degree that that was any speculation (about his job) late in the year ... that was always rumour mill-driven," Daniels said. "I feel the same way, just as strong about Wash as I ever have." After an AL-best record of 20-7 in August and with a two-game lead in the AL West, the Rangers started September with a 5-15 slide. That included being swept in a six-game homestand by Pittsburgh and Oakland, though they won all seven games on their last homestand to force the tiebreaker. It was the second year in a row a September slump cost the Rangers the AL West title. There was a 4-9 finish to the 2012 regular season. The Rangers staff ERA of 3.62 was their best since 1983. But after losing sluggers Josh Hamilton and Mike Napoli in free agency last winter, their 730 runs were the fewest in a full season since 1992. " Who would have thought five, six years ago wed be talking about the pitching being the strength of the club," Daniels said. And the core of the starting rotation is still signed for multiple years, including Darvish and left-handers Derek Holland (10-9) and Matt Harrison, the years opening day starter who pitched only twice before two operations on a herniated disk in his lower back. Darvish didnt pitch past the sixth inning in any of his last three starts, though the Rangers won each of those games. Texas was 0-6 his six previous starts, five of them one-run games (including consecutive 1-0 losses). Daniels said the nerve started bothering Darvish in August, and that the team agreed with the pitchers decision not to have the injection during the season. "Effectively he had a nerve issue in his lower back that caused him to use strength after a period of time in his right leg," Daniels said. "He wasnt as powerful as he wanted to be after being out there for an extended period. ... He chose not to have injection because it would have required him to miss a start. He did not want to do that, he wanted to take the ball every five days. I commend him for that." cheap nfl jerseyscheap jerseys ' ' '
