"The Senators couldn't stop the bleeding Friday night with the Battle of Ontario looming.

Playing at Scotiabank Place for the first time since Jan. 12, the Senators saw their losing skid reach five games after defenceman Mark Eaton scored his first goal since Nov. 28, 2009, to give the New York Islanders a 2-1 overtime victory.

The 18,252 went home in stunned silence as Eaton, left alone in front of the net, beat goalie Craig Anderson with a backhander at 2:35, in his 600th career game.

It capped another disappointing effort for the Senators, who now find themselves in a precarious position to make the playoffs. They are sixth in the Eastern Conference, five points up on ninth-place Washington, but the Capitals have four games in hand.

"I don't think we executed the way we wanted," said Zack Smith, the only Senator to beat New York goalie Evgeni Nabokov on the 24 shots he faced. "We tried being a little too cute at times. We didn't get pucks to the net and didn't challenge their 'D' enough entering the zone."

Smith opened the scoring with 13 seconds left in the second to give the Senators a lead they didn't deserve.

Ottawa goaltender Craig Anderson, making his 16th straight start, was the difference with 21 stops through two periods. He wound up with 30 saves on the night.

"We've been fortunate to have Andy hold us in games," said Smith. "Late in the season, it definitely catches up to you. We have to start playing a full 60 minutes."

A horrible defensive error in the third proved costly. With Jared Cowen out of position, P.A. Parenteau was able to slide a pass across to a wide-open Matt Martin, who beat Anderson to tie it up at 5:27."