Daniel Alfredsson scored twice in the final minute -- including an empty-netter -- to extend the Ottawa Senators' franchise-best winning streak to 10 with a 4-2 victory against the Buffalo Sabres Wednesday night.

Jason Spezza also scored two goals and added an assist, and Brian Elliott stopped 36 shots to win his eighth consecutive game -- matching the franchise mark he set as a rookie last season. Ryan Shannon had two assists in helping the surging Senators close to within three points of the first-place Sabres in the Northeast Division.

Andrej Sekera and Tim Connolly scored 27 seconds apart to tie it in the third period for the Sabres, who lost their eighth in a row to Ottawa, dating to a 4-2 home win Jan. 6, 2009.

The Senators bounced back after squandering a 2-0 lead. Defenseman Erik Karlsson set up Alfredsson for the decisive goal with a minute remaining. Karlsson wound up at the right point as if he was going to shoot, but instead fed a perfect pass through the slot to Alfredsson, alone at the left post.

The Senators captain sealed the victory by bouncing a shot into an open net with less than 23 seconds left. Ottawa won its sixth consecutive road game to match a team mark set in closing the 2002-03 season.

Spezza has scored in seven consecutive games, including five since returning from a right knee injury.

• Blues 3, Blackhawks 2: David Backes scored twice during a three-goal second period, Chris Mason made 32 saves, and visiting St. Louis won.

• The Blue Jackets fired defensive-minded coach Ken Hitchcock less than a year after the club made the postseason for the first time. Assistant coach Claude Noel was chosen to lead the team on an interim basis.

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