Senators hand league-leading Avalanche 3rd loss in 4 games with 5-2 victory

OTTAWA, Ontario (AP) — Tim Stutzle had a goal and an assist, Artem Zub added two assists and the Ottawa Senators defeated the league-leading Colorado Avalanche 5-2 on Wednesday night.

Nick Cousins, Ridly Greig, Claude Giroux and Brady Tkachuk also scored for Ottawa and James Reimer made 16 saves.

Parker Kelly and Valeri Nichushkin scored for the Avalanche, who have now lost three of their last four. Mackenzie Blackwood stopped 18 shots.

Trailing for most of the game, Colorado pushed back hard in the third period but the Senators were able to hold on.

The Senators made it 3-1 early in the third with Giroux scoring his 10th of the season beating Blackwood high blocker.

Less than two minutes later, a Giroux giveaway proved costly. Jack Drury found Nichushkin out front and the latter went to his backhand and beat Reimer high glove.

Tkachuk and Stutzle each added empty-net goals.

Ottawa opened the scoring early in the second period when Zub made a stretch pass to Cousins, who beat Blackwood high short side.

Colorado tied the game when Keaton Middleton’s outlet pass was tipped by Brock Nelson and went right through Nick Jensen’s legs to Kelly, who beat Reimer high.

Ottawa wasted no time regaining the lead scoring 17 seconds later. Tyler Kleven threw a puck down the ice that banked off the back boards and Greig won a foot race against Middleton and beat Blackwood high blocker.

Senators: Host New Jersey on Saturday.

Avalanche: Visit Montreal on Thursday.

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Ottawa Senators' Michael Amadio (22) and Colorado Avalanche's Samuel Girard (49) battle for the puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Ottawa, Ontario, on Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026. (Patrick Doyle/The Canadian Press via AP)

Ottawa Senators' goaltender James Reimer (47) makes a save on Colorado Avalanche's Jack Drury (18) during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Ottawa, Ontario, on Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026. (Patrick Doyle/The Canadian Press via AP)

Colorado Avalanche's Parker Kelly (17) scores on Ottawa Senators' goaltender James Reimer while Thomas Chabot (72) looks on during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Ottawa, Ontario, on Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026. (Patrick Doyle/The Canadian Press via AP)

Ottawa Senators goaltender James Reimer (47) makes a save while Colorado Avalanche's Parker Kelly (17) and Senators' Thomas Chabot (72) look on during third period NHL hockey action in Ottawa on Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026. (Patrick Doyle/The Canadian Press via AP)

MIAMI (AP) — Paolo Banchero had 31 points and 12 rebounds, Anthony Black scored 26 points and the Orlando Magic beat the Miami Heat 133-124 on Wednesday night to snap a four-game skid.

Desmond Bane finished with 23 points on 10-of-16 shooting and Jalen Suggs scored 16 for the Magic, who are 3-0 against the Heat this season.

Simone Fontecchio scored 23 points in 19 minutes for the Heat. Norman Powell added 22 points and Bam Adebayo had 21.

Franz Wagner (left ankle sprain) missed his fourth straight game for the Magic while Miami was without Tyler Herro (ribs) and Davion Mitchell (shoulder).

The start of the game was delayed by seven minutes because one of the rims was uneven.

The Magic went on a 14-0 run in the fourth quarter and led 121-104 with 5:47 remaining before the Heat rallied and got within 128-122 on Powell’s three-point play with 1:25 left. Banchero and Suggs made two free throws each in the final minute to secure the win.

Orlando finished with 36 assists and shot 16 of 38 from 3-point range.

Down nine at halftime, the Magic outscored the Heat 40-20 in the third period behind 13 points from Banchero and 10 from Black. Orlando forced seven turnovers and had a 7-1 advantage in offensive rebounds in the quarter.

Miami erased a 14-point deficit late in the first quarter and outscored Orlando by 16 in the second to lead 68-59 at the break. Fontecchio scored 14 points, including three 3-pointers, in the second.

Magic: Host Toronto on Friday.

Heat: At Chicago on Thursday in a game rescheduled from Jan. 8, when unplayable court conditions at United Center forced a postponement. It's the first of three games against the Bulls in a four-day span.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

Orlando Magic forward Jonathan Isaac (1) grabs a rebound after Miami Heat center Kel'el Ware (7) missed the basket during the second half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

Miami Heat forward Simone Fontecchio (0) is pushed back by Orlando Magic forwards Jonathan Isaac (1) and Tristan da Silva (23) during the second half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo (13) defends Orlando Magic forward Noah Penda (93) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

Orlando Magic guard Desmond Bane (3) looks to pass the ball as Miami Heat guard Dru Smith (12) defends during the second half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero (5) drives to the basket as Miami Heat forward Jaime Jaquez Jr. (11) defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)