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Ottawa Senators defenceman Erik Karlsson scores the game-winning shootout goal against New Jersey Devils goalie Cory Schneider in Ottawa on Thursday, April 10, 2014.Marc DesRosiers

Erik Karlsson scored the winner in the shootout as the Ottawa Senators defeated the New Jersey Devils 2-1 on Thursday night.

Mike Hoffman also scored for the Senators (35-31-14) as Robin Lehner stopped 38 shots to win his third straight game.

Michael Ryder scored his 18th of the season and Cory Schneider faced 32 shots for the Devils (34-29-17).

The game was forced into overtime as neither was able to break a 1-1 tie through the third.

With 35 seconds remaining in overtime the Senators went on the power play, but were unable to take advantage.

Overtime proved to be the best part of the game. The Devils had a great chance on a 3-on-1, but Lehner stopped Jaromir Jagr and at the other end Schneider robbed Chris Phillips from in close. By the end of overtime Jagr had been stopped three times, including on a breakaway.

The game lacked any intensity for the first 30 minutes and looked like two teams who missed the playoffs playing out the season.

The first excitement for the 19,270 on hand at Canadian Tire Place came midway through the second when Ales Hemsky was awarded a penalty shot after being pulled down by Marek Zidlicky.

Hemsky made little of the opportunity as he shot wide of the net.

The play did, however, seem to inspire the Senators as they scored a minute later when Mika Zibanejad made a pass back to a trailing Hoffman.

The Devils tied it at the 17-minute mark of the period as the Senators were unable to clear a rebound and Tim Sestito found Ryder through traffic.

A scoreless first period saw Ottawa's Mark Stone miss on a great opportunity and Clarke MacArthur being robbed point blank. The Devils didn't register their first shot until the eight-minute mark.

The Senators will play its last home game of the season Saturday when they host the Toronto Maple Leafs, while the Devils return home to wrap up the season.

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