KANATA, Ontario (AP) -- The way they've been going, the Ottawa Senators will settle for any kind of win.

Daniel Alfredsson scored on a penalty shot early in the second period and the Ottawa Senators held on to beat the expansion Atlanta Thrashers 3-2 Saturday night.

Rob Zamuner and Joe Juneau also scored for the Senators, who extended their unbeaten streak to five games (3-0-2). Ottawa had won only two of their previous six games against sub-.500 teams.

Hnat Domenichelli and Steve Guolla had goals for Atlanta, the NHL's worst team with only 34 points.

Ottawa rebounded from Thursday's 5-5 tie against the New York Islanders in which the Senators allowed three short-handed goals.

"We played a much stronger game overall," Alfredsson said. "We came out with the win but we can do better than this."

Atlanta, outshot 10-4 in the first period, opened the scoring with 1:48 left in the period. Domenichelli swung behind the net, with the teams skating 4-on-4, turned and beat Patrick Lalime to the short side.

The Senators took a 2-1 lead early in the second period when Zamuner scored shorthanded at 2:15 and Alfredsson converted his penalty shot at 3:14. Both goals came with Janne Laukkanen in the penalty box for roughing.

"We self-destructed for a minute, one or two shifts, and that was the game," Atlanta coach Curt Fraser said. "They hit three posts in the second, so there was a bit of luck."

Alfredsson was awarded the penalty shot when rookie goalie Scott Langkow got caught out of position and threw his stick at the puck. The Ottawa captain beat Langkow on a backhander for his 13th goal.

"I don't know who I thought I was trying to beat Alfredsson to the puck," Langkow said. "He made a good move on the penalty shot."

It was the first penalty-shot goal for Alfredsson after two failed attempts.

"When I saw him come out strong against the puck, I decided to deke around him," Alfredsson said.

Juneau was all alone in front of Langkow when he converted Shawn McEachern's pass with 2:09 left in the period.

Guolla cut the deficit to 3-2 at 4:26 of the third.

Atlanta was outshot 38-19.