TORONTO -- Bobby Ryan, Marc Methot and Zack Smith had goals for the Ottawa Senators in a 3-2 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday night in Air Canada Centre.

Smith scored the winner at 17:45 of the third period.

William Nylander and Nikita Soshnikov had Toronto's goals.

The Leafs led 2-1 after the second period, but Methot tied it with a backhand that eluded Toronto goalie Jonathan Bernier.

Ottawa improved to 31-28-7 and Toronto, which has the worst record in the NHL, fell to 21-33-10.

Ryan opened the scoring with an unassisted goal at 6:06 of the first period on a shot in close shortly after the faceoff. Ryan registered his 22th goal of the season.

The goal happened only three seconds after the tribute to former Maple Leafs defenseman Dion Phaneuf. A minute and 16 seconds later, Phaneuf engaged in the fight.

At 9:27, Nylander, drafted eighth overall by the Leafs in 2014, scored his first goal for Toronto and his first in the NHL. He released a wrist shot from between the circles, beating Senators goalie Andrew Hammond on the short side.

Nylander, who starred for the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League, was playing in his fourth game since called up the parent club. He hadn't registered a point but had come close.

Soshnikov, another talented rookie called up from the Marlies, scored his second goal in four games, beating Hammond on a wrist shot to the short side in roughly the same area that Nylander scored. His goal, on a power play, followed a pass from left winger Brandon Leipsic, who was playing in his sixth game for Toronto and has totaled three points.

Bernier, who is being challenged for the starting job by Marlies call-up Garret Sparks, started for Toronto. He made some spectacular saves, including a shot redirected by Smith in the second period.

NOTES: D Dion Phaneuf became the sixth former Maple Leafs captain to play in Toronto for the first time since they were either traded or left the team after their contract expired. The others were Mats Sundin, Doug Gilmour, Wendel Clark, Darryl Sittler and Dave Keon. ... The Leafs entered the game last in the league in power-play efficiency and 20th in the penalty kill. ... Ottawa's power play ranked 18th and it was 29th in the penalty kill. ... The Leafs are in the midst of a four-game homestand. They play Buffalo on Monday night and the New York Islanders on Wednesday night. ... Toronto entered the game with an all-time 49-45-3-9 record against the Senators, including 27-18-2-6 at home. ... Injured Senators included: G Craig Anderson (leg), D Chris Philips (knee), D Mark Borowiecki (knee), LW Clarke McArthur (concussion) and C Kyle Turris (ankle). G Chris Driedger dressed in his second game since being recalled from Binghamton of the AHL. ... The Leafs injured players included: D Jared Cowen (hip), LW James Van Riemsdyk (foot), LW Joffrey Lupul (sports hernia), LW Milan Michalek (finger), RW P.A. Parenteau (upper body) and C Byron Froese (upper body).