Saturday, Jan. 13 10:00pm ET
Ottawa moves into East lead
RECAP
|
BOX SCORE
CALGARY, Alberta (AP) -- Patrick Lalime was spectacular on a
night the Ottawa Senators needed him to be.
Lalime made 38 saves and Shawn McEachern had a goal and two
assists to lead the Ottawa Senators to a 5-2 victory over the
Calgary Flames on Saturday night.
Lalime, in his 19th start in 21 games, kept Ottawa in the game,
especially in the second period when the Senators were outshot
19-12.
"You don't want to give a team too many chances like that, but
we weren't too worried," Lalime said. "In the third, we got back
to our system and played some really good hockey."
After closing December with four straight losses, Ottawa has won
five in a row and moved into sole possession of first place in the
Eastern Conference, a point ahead of the New Jersey Devils.
"Our goal is definitely to finish first in the conference so
it's a huge win," said Lalime, now 18-8-2. "It's shaping up to be
a big battle."
Jason York, Alexei Yashin, Wade Redden and Andreas Dackell also
scored for Ottawa (24-12-6-0). Redden has four goals and four
assists during his five-game scoring streak.
"We're just playing a lot better now," McEachern said. "We're
forechecking harder now and just sticking to our game. During our
losing streak, we were guilty of trying to do too much."
Daniel Tkaczuk and Derek Morris scored for Calgary, which had
its six-game home unbeaten streak stopped. The Flames outshot the
Senators 40-27.
Calgary's best scoring chance of the third period typified how
many of Lalime's saves went. Looking for the tying goal on a power
play, Igor Kravchuk's slap shot through a crowd in front was
somehow stopped by Lalime and the rebound cleared away.
"Patrick's a big guy and he just always seemed to be in a good
spot to get a piece of the puck," Tkaczuk said. "He made some key
saves at some very key times in the game."
York's goal at 8:40 of the second period made it 3-0 when he
stepped over the Calgary blue-line and his soft wrist shot appeared
to fool goalie Fred Brathwaite.
Calgary broke the shutout just 14 seconds later when Dave Lowry
carried the puck into the Senators zone and from the corner, fed
Tkaczuk, who one-timed it past Lalime.
Calgary drew to within 3-2 on a two-man advantage. With Cory
Stillman planted on the edge of the crease, Morris took advantage
of a screen by ripping a high slap shot past Lalime at 13:05.
Despite being outplayed in the first period, Ottawa emerged with
a 2-0 lead.
Yashin opened the scoring 51 seconds in, taking advantage of an
elbowing penalty assessed to Calgary's Jeff Cowan.
Redden made it 2-0 when, seconds after ripping a slap shot off
the goal post, the puck came back to Redden and this time his wrist
shot ended up going in the net through a crowd.
"Playing a team like Ottawa is definitely a measuring stick and
if you can compete against the best when they're playing their
best, that gives ourselves confidence," Tkaczuk said. "But three
goal leads are tough to come back against in this league,
especially when you're playing one of the best teams."
Game notes
With Magnus Arvedson sidelined with a knee injury, Rob
Zamuner took his spot on the line with Radek Bonk and Marian Hossa.
... It was Calgary's seventh sellout of the season. ... Lowry's
assist was his 300th career point. ... Rico Fata made his first
appearance for Calgary after being recalled from Saint John (AHL)
on Friday.
|
|
ALSO SEE
NHL Scoreboard
Ottawa Clubhouse
Calgary Clubhouse
RECAPS
Boston 4
NY Rangers 1
Montreal 5
Phoenix 2
Toronto 4
New Jersey 4
NY Islanders 6
Pittsburgh 5
Washington 4
Atlanta 1
Philadelphia 4
Florida 1
St. Louis 4
Los Angeles 2
Ottawa 5
Calgary 2
Nashville 5
San Jose 3
FROM
ATHLETESDIRECT
Valeri Bure Official Site
|
