The Ottawa Senators dropped their fourth straight game on Saturday, losing 3-2 to the Washington Capitals on in what would be a milestone game for a number of players.

Marcus Hogberg made his first career NHL start in net for the Senators, allowing three goals on 24 shots. He was shaky through the first period and a half but settled into the game nicely over the second half.

Senators head coach Guy Boucher thought the rookie goalie did the best he could against the defending Stanley Cup champions.

“It’s as tough as it gets coming in and he gave us a chance,” said Boucher. “We had a chance until the very end so he did his job.

The Senators threw 33 shots and numerous quality scoring chances at Capitals netminder Pheonix Copley but were unable to capitalize.

“Every ounce of energy was put into those last two periods to give a push,” said Boucher. “We hit a post, he made a paddle save, we had some chances, we definitely could have had more than two goals.”

Colin White had a goal and an assist and Brady Tkachuk had two assist for the Senators. Mark Stone scored the other goal for Ottawa.

Tkachuk was assessed a 10-minute misconduct after retaliating to a blindside hit from Capitals defenseman Madison Bowey. He also picked up a two-minute minor for instigating and a five-minute major for fighting on the play.

Bowey and fellow defenseman Tyler Lewington each scored their first career NHL goals for Washington.

Lewington also picked up an assist and a fight for a Gordie Howe hat-trick, the first by a Capitals defenseman in almost 28 years.

Lewington with the Gordie Howe hat trick, first #Caps defenseman to achieve the feat in nearly 28 years. He dropped the mitts with Zack Smith. #CapsSens

— Mike Vogel (@VogsCaps) December 30, 2018

Tom Wilson and Nicklas Backstrom each had a goal and an assist while Pheonix Copley made 31 saves for the Capitals.

Stone snapped a shot past Copley with 3:30 left in the third to make it 3-2.

White made it 3-1 after he jammed home a loose puck at the side of the net. Washington challenged the play for goaltender interference but the call on the ice was upheld.

Bowey fired a slap shot top corner over Hogberg’s shoulder to put the Caps up 3-0 just over a minute into the second period.

The Capitals carried a 2-0 lead into the second courtesy of Lewington’s first and Wilson’s 11th goal of the season.

The Senators look to get back into the win column and head to Columbus to face the Blue Jackets on Monday for their last game of 2018.