In the absence of two of their high-scoring superstars, the Ottawa Senators dropped a 2-0 decision to the Tampa Bay Lightning at Scotiabank Place in Kanata, Ont., on Saturday.

Martin St. Louis's power-play goal at 17:22 of the first period proved to be the winning goal for Tampa Bay (19-24-5), which won its third consecutive road game.

Ottawa Senators' Antoine Vermette battles for the puck in front of Tampa Bay Lightning goalie Johan Holmqvist during their game on Saturday.
(Tom Hanson/Canadian Press)

Johan Holmqvist made 25 saves to earn his second shutout of the season in as many nights and Vincent Lecavalier added an empty net goal as insurance for the Lightning.

Holmqvist's shutout streak now stands at over 121 minutes, representing the Lightning's longest stretch without allowing a goal this season.

"He's played very well the past two games," said Lightning head coach John Tortorella. "It's not just the saves he's making, it's how he's making them. He looks solid."

Holmqvist was at his best in the second period, when he turned away 12 Senators shots. In the third period however, Ottawa could only manage six shots, despite having two power-play opportunities to tie the game.

"I thought we played really strong in the third period when we really needed it," said Holmqvist, who had never recorded back-to-back shutouts. "We've been playing pretty good on the road and when you get a couple of wins behind you the confidence keeps going.

"It's a very nice feeling and they were two big wins for us, which is the main thing, but it's nice to get a shutout."

The Senators (30-13-4) continued to struggle without Dany Heatley, losing for the third time in four games since his injury occurred.

Heatley, Ottawa's leading scorer, is expected to miss five more weeks after separating his right shoulder last Saturday in a 3-2 win over the Detroit Red Wings. 

Compounding problems was the gametime decision to scratch captain Daniel Alfredsson, who continued to feel the effects of a hip flexor injury suffered in the second period of Thursday's win against the Carolina Hurricanes.

Ray Emery made 24 saves in a losing effort for Ottawa, which lost for just the third time in 19 home games against the Lightning.

"We've just got to get more chances and get more shots on net," said Senators forward Shean Donovan. "We need to be a little more desperate. Anytime you don't win it's not a good thing but we've got three games on the road now so it will be good for the team."

The winning goal was set up in the first after the Senators took a penalty for having too many men on the ice.

On the ensuing power play, Brad Richards fired a fluttering, long shot through traffic that was tipped by Vaclav Prospal.

Emery failed to handle the redirection cleanly and the ensuing rebound came right to St. Louis on the doorstep. The diminutive forward then swept the puck into the open net for his 18th goal of the season to take the Lightning to a 1-0 lead.

"It was a pretty effort. It was a tight checking game, essentially a 1-0 game on a kind of a lucky bounce on the power play," said Senators forward Jason Spezza.

"It was kind of what we wanted and I think what they wanted too, we just couldn't put the puck in the net."

With files from the Canadian Press