Senators boost their playoff push by beating the Rangers 2-1

NEW YORK (AP) — Shane Pinto scored on the power play, Warren Foegele added his fifth goal in nine games since being traded and the Ottawa Senators made up more ground in their chase to make the playoffs by beating the New York Rangers 2-1 on Monday night.

The Rangers had just nine shots on goal, matching a franchise worst set on Dec. 11, 1955, in a defeat at Detroit — and the fewest in a game by any NHL team since 2003. They lost for a 25th time in 34 home games this season.

Ottawa won its third in a row, improving to 14-3-2 since Jan. 25 and moving two points back of the second and final wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference with 12 games to play.

The latest victory came at a cost of two more injuries to an already depleted defense. Thomas Chabot took a stick to the right arm from J.T. Miller in the final seconds of the first period and Lassi Thomson left his first NHL game since Nov. 25, 2022, during the second because of a lower-body injury. Neither returned.

The Senators, missing Jake Sanderson because of an upper-body injury and Nick Jensen following knee surgery, finished the game with four defensemen.

New York goaltender Igor Shesterkin stopped 31 shots and was the only reason the deficit wasn't worse. Conor Sheary scored on the Rangers' seventh shot to end James Reimer's shutout bid with 13 minutes left.

Mika Zibanejad skated in his 1,000th regular-season game, his 719th with the Rangers after playing his first 281 with Ottawa. Zibanejad was honored in a pregame ceremony with a video narrated by his wife, Irma, and presented a silver stick along with a mini version for their young daughter, Ella.

Senators: Visit the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday night in a matchup of Eastern Conference teams fighting to make the playoffs.

Rangers: Visit the Toronto Maple Leafs on Wednesday night.

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

Ottawa Senators' Warren Foegele celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the New York Rangers Monday, March 23, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Ottawa Senators' Lassi Thomson (60) defends New York Rangers' Jaroslav Chmelar (49) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Monday, March 23, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Ottawa Senators' Lassi Thomson (60) reacts after getting hurt during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the New York Rangers Monday, March 23, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Ottawa Senators' Nick Cousins (21) checks New York Rangers' Vladislav Gavrikov (44) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Monday, March 23, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Ottawa Senators' Claude Giroux (28) drives past New York Rangers' Vincent Trocheck (16) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Monday, March 23, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

MIAMI (AP) — Victor Wembanyama finished with 26 points, 15 rebounds and five blocked shots, and the San Antonio Spurs rolled past the sliding Miami Heat 136-111 on Monday night for their sixth consecutive victory.

San Antonio's victory, coupled with Houston's 132-124 loss to Chicago, allowed the Spurs to clinch the Southwest Division.

Keldon Johnson and Dylan Harper each scored 21 off the bench for the Spurs, who are an NBA-best 22-2 since the start of February. They led by as many as 30, the biggest margin any visiting team has enjoyed in Miami so far this season.

Stephon Castle scored 19 for the Spurs. San Antonio (54-18) remained three games back of Oklahoma City (57-15) in the race for the NBA's best overall record and No. 1 seed in the Western Conference. The Thunder beat Philadelphia on Monday for their 12th consecutive win.

Norman Powell scored 21 off the bench to lead the Heat, who remain stuck in the quagmire that is the Eastern Conference’s play-in race and have lost five consecutive games.

Philadelphia (39-33) is seventh and a game up on Miami, while Orlando (38-33 after a loss to Indiana on Monday) is eighth and a half-game ahead of the Heat (38-34). And No. 10 Charlotte (37-34) is now only a half-game behind Miami.

Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro each scored 18 for Miami, which has dropped five straight. The Heat allowed 76 points in the first half and rested their starters in the fourth quarter.

Wembanyama was 11 for 22 from the field for the Spurs. It was the fourth time this season that he finished a game with at least 26 points, 15 rebounds and five blocks; the rest of the league has one such game, combined — that from Zach Edey in November.

Spurs: Visit Memphis on Wednesday.

Heat: Visit Cleveland on Wednesday.

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

San Antonio Spurs center Luke Kornet (7) fights for control of the ball against Miami Heat center Kel'el Ware, left, and guard Tyler Herro, second from right, during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, March 23, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo (13) is fouled by San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama, right, during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, March 23, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) shoots a three-point basket over Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo (13) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, March 23, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Miami Heat's Davion Mitchell, left, grabs a rebound over San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, March 23, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) dunks over Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo, right, during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, March 23, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)