3 takeaways from Senators' 3-2 win against Blue Jackets

Following Thursday night's 4-3 road win against the Detroit Red Wings, the Ottawa Senators would start a back-to-back and play their first meeting of the season against the Columbus Blue Jackets in the middle of a tight playoff race in the Eastern Conference.

The Senators headed into tonight six points ahead of the Blue Jackets. With another pivotal game to gain ground on a team that's behind them in the standings, the Senators came through.

The Senators defeated the Blue Jackets 3-2 at Canadian Tire Centre to improve to 39-28-5 on the season. The win helps the Senators now have 83 points on the season.

Another win earned against a team chasing the Senators in the standings was highly needed to help the Senators get closer to have a chance to clinch a playoff spot. In another tight game, the Senators locked down a win.

3. More improvement is showing

Ridly Greig entered this season on the final year of his contract and was set to be a restricted free agent after the season. This past January, Greig signed a four-year contract extension to remain a Senator. This season, Greig's game has taken off.

With the game scoreless, Greig scored the opening goal of the game on a tip-in 7:24 into the game. Greig's goal was his 12th of the season, but it was a goal that showed the improvement of Greig.

With his goal, Greig recorded his 27th point of the season to set a new career-high for points in a season. Greig recorded 26 points last season in his true rookie season, but the 22-year-old has risen his game big this season.

Greig is also one goal away from tying his career-high for a single season. Greig also added an assist to record a two-point game and now have 28 points on the season.

2. Milestones reached

Playing in 200 NHL games doesn't happen for every hockey player, but Shane Pinto got to play in his 200th career NHL game. In his 200th game, Pinto made quite an impact in the win.

Pinto recorded the secondary assist on Greig's goal. In the second period, Pinto delivered a nice pass for Jake Sanderson to tip-in for a goal to give the Senators a 3-1 lead.

With recording two assists in the game, it helped Pinto record his 100th career NHL point. The two assists also helped Pinto reach 30 points on the season for the second time in three seasons. It was also the third time in March that Pinto recorded a two-point game.

1. Winning again when it matters

Thursday night was a win needed against the Red Wings who are chasing the Senators in the standings. The Senators needed to do it again with the Blue Jackets behind them and they did. Even with not playing the Blue Jackets all season, it didn't bother the Senators.

Linus Ullmark came through again by making 28 saves to earn his third consecutive win after getting pulled from the net nine nights ago against the Colorado Avalanche.

The line of Drake Batherson, Dylan Cozens and David Perron showed production again with Batherson scoring his 21st goal of the season and Cozens picking up his ninth point as a Senator in 11 games.

The win showed again that when the Senators need to earn crucial wins in March, they're able to against teams chasing them for a playoff spot. The Senators are still in the first Wild Card spot with 83 points, and have a cushion on teams behind them. In March, the Senators have posted a 10-3-1 record.

The Senators have a quick turnaround tomorrow as they travel to PPG Paints Arena to clash against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Puck drop is scheduled for 5 p.m. ET.

The Senators will attempt to sweep the three-game season series against the Penguins. In the first meeting in Ottawa on Dec. 14, the Senators won 3-2 in overtime. In the second meeting in the Steel City on Jan. 11, the Senators shutout the Penguins 5-0.