Sens' Lalime notches 23rd career shutout
CALGARY, Alberta (AP) -- On the ice, the Ottawa Senators continue to be a model NHL franchise.

Wade Redden scored the game's only goal in the first period and Patrick Lalime made 21 saves for his third shutout of the season as the financially troubled Ottawa Senators defeated the Calgary Flames 1-0 Thursday night.

"They've been playing well lately and we knew that,'' said Lalime, who got his 23rd career shutout. "Our game plan was to get the lead and after that, shut them down offensively.''

That is exactly what the Senators did in getting a 1-0 lead on Redden's goal late in the first period. Ottawa then held the Flames to just 10 shots in the final 40 minutes.

On the same day they filed for bankruptcy protection, the Senators showed why they are the No. 1 team in the Eastern Conference.

"There's never really been a direct impact on our game,'' Redden said. "In our heads, it's been a bit of an issue but as far as the game itself, we're staying with what's been working for us and it hasn't really been an issue for us.''

Ottawa rebounded from a 6-4 loss in Vancouver the previous night to avoid losing consecutive games for what would have been the first time since Nov. 8-9.

"It's been a while since we lost two in a row,'' defenseman Chris Phillips said. "We came back hard again tonight and everyone in here is proud of their effort.''

The lone goal came on a power play with 1:57 left in the first period.

Todd White beat Craig Conroy on a faceoff deep in the Flames' end and pulled the puck back to Redden at the blue line. The veteran defenseman took one stride and ripped a low slap shot past Roman Turek on the glove side.

Ottawa (26-10-5-1) maintained its five-point lead over Philadelphia atop the Eastern Conference. The Flyers beat the New York Islanders 4-0 earlier Thursday.

Calgary (14-19-6-3) lost for the first time in six games (4-1-1) since Darryl Sutter was hired as head coach.

"We just made too many turnovers,'' Flames defenseman Robyn Regehr said. "In the second period, we didn't generate any offense at all. We only had three or four shots maybe and we played in our own end the whole time.''

With backup goalie Martin Prusek sidelined with a groin injury, Lalime started again for the Senators. He turned in a better performance than against the Canucks on Wednesday in which he gave up six goals on 25 shots before being pulled with 10 minutes remaining.

Lalime's best stop came in the first period with the game scoreless when a faceoff delay-of-game penalty to Marian Hossa resulted in a two-man advantage for Calgary for 1 minute, 34 seconds.

Lalime sprawled across the crease to stab Oleg Saprykin's shot with his glove.

Calgary pulled Turek for an extra skater in the final minute but was unable to generate any solid scoring chances.

"We weren't sharp out there, we were making passes and the puck was bouncing, we were missing passes, and we were missing the net too -- we missed the net tonight on a lot of great chances,'' Regehr said. "We misfired tonight and that can't happen, not in our position.

"We're behind the 8-ball already from the first half of the season and we need every point we can possibly get.''

Game notes
Rookie Calgary D Jordan Leopold returned to the lineup after being a healthy scratch the past four games. ... The Senators improved to 17-1-2 when leading after the first period. ... During their five-game unbeaten streak, the Flames trailed only once for 14 minutes, 35 seconds.