DETROIT

Just when it looks like the Senators can kiss their playoff chances good-bye, they continue to find a way to keep afloat.

At Joe Louis Arena Tuesday, it was a dramatic, late third-period comeback that ended with a 2-1 shootout victory over the Detroit Red Wings.

The victory kept the Senators up to speed with the Boston Bruins, who beat the Florida Panthers earlier in the night.

Ottawa remains three points back of the B’s in the race for the final wild-card spot, with six games remaining. Boston has five left to play.

Unable to score with multiple chances through the first three periods, Mark Stone decided things in the fourth round of the tie-breaking process.

The Senators losing streak was stopped at three games.

Stone, who had a team-high seven shots on goal in the game, admitted to “frustration” and then “finally a delight to get one by him.”

“I remember in the 2012 world juniors I couldn’t score on this guy,” said Stone. “It’s been a while since I’ve put one in. It feels good to finally push through and get one.

“On the breakaway I had earlier in the game I went backhand, so maybe he thought it was my move,” said Stone. “I made him bite the one way and slid it around him. I’ve got that long stick so I was able to get to the back post quick.”

Clarke MacArthur played the role of Clarke Kent’s alter-ego, pulling the Senators out of the fire with a blast from the point 4:02 from the final buzzer that tied the score.

It was his 14th goal of the season, and first in 15 games.

The out-of-town scoreboard doesn’t work at The Joe, so Senators didn’t know where they stood until after getting back to the dressing room.

“You can barely see the main scoreboard in this place,” said MacArthur. “Obviously you come in and want to know who won (the Boston game). Teams won, but we just keep going.

“We kind of took a little dip, but we’re back at it now. We had so many chances. You shake your head almost. Those are great games to be in. We’re all battling.”

Andrew Hammond improved his record to 15-1-1 by making 16 saves and two more in the shootout. Former 67’s goalie Petr Mrazek was brilliant until the shootout, making 33 saves.

The Senators outshot the Red Wings 13-4 in the first period, 13-5 in the second and 8-7 in the third.

Both teams had one shot in overtime.

Hammond said Senators showed character.

“We stuck to our systems ... really we didn’t give Detroit too much at all tonight,” he said. “They played outstanding in front of me. We could have had a lot more goals.”

Mika Zibanejad and Kyle Turris also scored for the Senators in the shootout.

Mrazek, who has been pulled by coach Mike Babcock four times this season, looked like a re-incarnated Terry Sawchuk on this night.

The Senators were dominating play and charging up ice when Kyle Turris sent a back pass to ... nobody. It was gobbled up by Justin Abdelkader, who broke the other way with Gustav Nyquist on what ultimately became a 2-on-2. After taking a short dish, Nyquist fired a shot that beat Hammond on the stick side.

The goal, Nyquist’s 25th of the season, came on Detroit’s sixth shot. The Senators had 17 at that point.

Hammond no doubt wants Nyquist’s goal back. He was playing at the top of his crease, and the shot beat him on the stick side.

Ottawa remembers Nyquist all too well, of course.

On Dec. 27 fans at Canadian Tire Centre, as well as all the Senators, watched the nifty winger tour Ottawa’s defensive zone for a half minute before firing home an overtime winner.

Turris redeemed himself on the MacArthur goal, winning the offensive zone face off leading to MacArthur’s first goal in 15 games.

Twitter: @sundonib

