Sens beat Oilers for first time since 1994
EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) -- The Ottawa Senators are too busy winning to
worry about the franchise's financial problems.
"It seems like we've concentrated even better than before,'' Senators
star Marian Hossa said. "It looks like nothing's bothering us. We just
try to focus on our game and the hockey and that's it.''
Patrick Lalime made 20 saves as the Senators beat Edmonton 2-0 on
Saturday night, his second straight shutout since the team filed for
bankruptcy protection Thursday.
"We have no control over what's happening,'' Senators coach Jacques
Martin said. "I think the players have shown great focus and great
determination in concentrating on the task. They've done an outstanding
job.''
Lalime, coming off a 1-0 victory in Calgary on Thursday night, has four
shutouts this season and 24 in his career.
"Patrick played very well,'' Martin said. "He looked very comfortable,
very confident.''
Hossa scored his team-leading 28th goal on a power play midway through
the first period, and Daniel Alfredsson added his 14th with 3:14 left
in the second to help Ottawa within one point of Dallas for the NHL
lead.
"They made us look pretty ineffective,'' Edmonton coach Craig MacTavish
said. "They checked us very well and we had a hard time penetrating,
especially early in the hockey game.''
The victory was the Senators' first victory against the Oilers since a
4-3 overtime win on Jan. 19, 1994. Ottawa was 0-10-3-0 in its previous
13 games against Edmonton.
"We knew we weren't successful against those guys,'' Lalime said. "I
think we came ready to win from the first minute and never looked
back.''
Edmonton was 0-for-5 on the power play.
"Lalime played well early in the game when we felt we had a lot of
pressure and we were playing the type of game that we thought we needed
to win,'' Oilers defenseman Eric Brewer said.
Game notes
After the game, Alfredsson and Oilers captain Jason Smith autographed
their jerseys and donated them to the Hockey Fights Cancer online
auction. The funds will be used for cancer research and to help
children's hospitals throughout North America. ... Oilers defenseman
Steve Staios returned to the lineup after missing six games with
post-concussion symptoms.