Maple Leafs clamp down on Senators
TORONTO -- The Ottawa Senators have never shot this badly. The last
time they got close was 1993.
Toronto's Alexander Mogilny and Darcy Tucker scored power-play goals,
and Ottawa had a franchise-low 10 shots as the Maple Leafs beat the
Senators 3-1 Saturday.
"It was a terrible effort," Ottawa's Wade Redden said. "We didn't have
any energy or bring anything to the table."
Mike Fisher scored a shorthanded goal for the Senators, whose previous
low was 11 shots on Dec. 30, 1993 against Tampa Bay.
"There wasn't a lot of things we did good tonight," Senators captain
Daniel Alfredsson said. "We were slow to the puck, and it looked like
we were real tired."
Robert Reichel also scored for the Maple Leafs, who had lost their
previous seven regular-season games to Ottawa. The Senators had been
10-1-1 in their previous 12 regular-season games against Toronto.
"Usually, we're the frustrated team that gets lulled into taking risky
plays," Maple Leafs forward Tie Domi said. "Tonight, we really stuck to
our game plan, and didn't turn the puck over."
The Maple Leafs, who have won three consecutive games, went 2-for-6 on
the power play, while the Senators went 0-for-2.
The Northeast Division rivals meet again Monday night in Ottawa.
"We didn't give them any room to skate," Leafs goalie Curtis Joseph
said. "It was a great game for us."
Senators goalie Patrick Lalime, who had been 7-0 in his career against
Toronto, made 19 saves.
Reichel scored an unassisted goal at 2:36 of the first period after
Lalime failed to clear the puck by shooting it behind his net. Reichel
intercepted and scored on a wraparound.
"I was surprised by that play," Reichel said.
Fisher scored as he was falling down at 4:34 of the second period. Domi
made a centering pass to Tucker, who scored his 13th goal on a
one-timer at 14:19.
Mogilny made it 3-1 at 16:45. Bryan McCabe's shot from the point
bounced off the boards to Mogilny, who scored his 13th goal from the
side of the net. Mogilny had an opportunity to make it 4-1 on a
breakaway midway through the third period, but instead of shooting made
an errant pass to defenseman Wade Belak.
NOTES: Toronto's Gary Roberts suffered a second degree shoulder
separation. Leafs coach Pat Quinn fears Roberts could miss a month.
Roberts collided with Ottawa's Chris Neil and linesman Steve Miller
seven minutes into the second period. . . . Toronto outshot Ottawa 11-2
in the first period. . . . Toronto's Shayne Corson missed the game with
a slight shoulder separation. . . . The Senators have been knocked out
of the playoffs by the Maple Leafs the past two seasons. . . .
Alfredsson, who assisted on Fisher's goal, has 10 points in his past
seven games. . . . Ottawa was unbeaten in its previous four games. . .
. Toronto outshot Ottawa 22-10.