Nicholas Paul and Josh Norris had goals for the Senators (14-26-4) and in his return to the lineup, Matt Murray made 32 saves in his first start since March 10. Winnipeg's (26-14-3) Laurent Brossoit stopped 27 shots as Mark Scheifele, Mathieu Perreault and Trevor Lewis scored
"We were very good for two periods," Sens head coach D.J. Smith said. "We skated, we made plays, we broke out very well. I just think in the third period we lose to a mature team.
"It was a team effort that just got away from us."
It took just 79 seconds for the Sens to jump ahead as Paul buried his fourth of the year as he got in all alone on Brossoit to pick his spot past his blocker.
The lead didn't last long as Winnipeg made it 1-1 at 3:24 on Scheifele's goal as he was all alone back door to bury Nikolaj Ehlers' pass for his 16th of the season.
After a scoreless second, that saw Tim Stützle ring the post inside the opening two minutes of the period, Winnipeg took a 2-1 lead 2:07 into the final period on a power play marker from Perreault.
Lewis pushed the lead to 3-1 with 10:21 to play as he scored short-handed after gathering the puck on the left wing and beating Murray glove-side for his third of the campaign.
"We didn't make a hard play and then I think we thought it was cleared down and it hit the boards and popped out and they get a breakaway and score," Smith said.
The Sens cut the deficit to one with a power play goal from Norris on a 5-on-3 power play, with the goalie pulled, with 9.4 seconds left in regulation but the Sens lost the subsequent faceoff at centre ice and were unable to get a final opportunity.
Senators defenceman Jacob Bernard-Docker made his NHL debut playing 15:33 and blocking two shots.
"It was definitely a really exciting time for me and so many people that helped me get to this part of my life and it's a pretty special moment," Bernard-Docker said. "The first few shifts I was just trying to keep it simple … The second and third period, I definitely felt a little more comfortable and just tried to settle in and play my game."
Connor Brown's franchise record scoring streak ended tonight as he was unable to score in his ninth straight game. However, he did have an assist on Norris' goal to push his point-streak to nine games.
The Senators are back in action when they open a four-game road trip in Montreal Saturday afternoon.
