The Lightning knew the importance of Tuesday’s game against the Senators, the first of two against them this week at Amalie Arena. Tampa Bay entered the night out of a playoff spot and looking up at Ottawa in the standings.

TAMPA -- The Tampa Bay Lightning spoiled Linus Ullmark ’s return from injury and ended the Ottawa Senators’ five-game winning streak with a 4-3 victory at Amalie Arena on Tuesday. Ullmark, playing in his first game since Dec. 22 after missing the previous 18 because of a back injury, made 34 saves.

The Lightning are just one point out of a playoff spot at 27-20-4 overall with a 3-9-0 record against their Atlantic Division opponents. They’re averaging 3.4 goals per game which puts them fourth in the league, but the past month has proven to be their most difficult hurdle offensively.