Fedotenko, Cechmanek help Flyers outlast Senators

PHILADELPHIA -- Nobody is questioning Roman Cechmanek now.

Cechmanek made 35 saves and Ruslan Fedotenko scored 7:47 into overtime, lifting the Philadelphia Flyers to a 1-0 victory over the Ottawa Senators on Wednesday in the opener of their Eastern Conference quarterfinal series.

"He kept us right there. He played outstanding the whole game," Flyers coach Bill Barber said of Cechmanek, who struggled in the playoffs last year.

Cechmanek, a Vezina Trophy finalist last season, allowed 18 goals in a six-game series against Buffalo in his first playoff series. He was 2-3-1 in his last six regular-season starts after returning from a right ankle injury that forced him to miss 13 games.

"It was an important game for Roman," forward Mark Recchi said. "There's been lots of questions, but we believe in him and know he's a big-time goalie."

The Flyers, who had won just two of their last 10 regular-season games, were outshot 32-15 in regulation, but took nine of the 12 shots in overtime.

Ottawa, which has won just one playoff series in its 10-year history, has lost 13 straight on the road in the postseason.

"We dominated for three periods, so it wasn't a lack of effort or work ethic," Senators coach Jacques Martin said. "We just have to be better next game."

After getting a few solid scoring chances early in overtime, the Flyers capitalized on a freak play. Marty Murray, while falling to the ice, dumped the puck toward the net from the wing, it hit defenseman Shane Hnidy's skate and ricocheted into the slot to Fedotenko, who backhanded it past Senators goaltender Patrick Lalime's glove.

"It's not always the hardest shot that goes in," Fedotenko said after recording his first playoff goal. "Sometimes if you just put it on the net, it goes in."

The Flyers haven't advanced past the first round in three of the last four seasons. But with several All-Stars on the roster and a payroll of $55.5 million -- among the top five in the NHL -- another first-round flop won't be accepted in Philadelphia.

For the first two periods, the Flyers played like they felt the pressure.

The Senators outshot Philadelphia 24-6 over the opening 30 minutes and 27-10 in the first two periods

It took the Flyers 8:33 to get their first shot and another seven minutes to take another one, before finishing with just three in the first period.

"We played the first two periods the way we had been playing the last four to six weeks," Flyers captain Keith Primeau said. "We couldn't allow that to go on anymore."

Cechmanek made an outstanding glove save while falling backward on a shot by Benoit Brunet early in the third.

A minute later, Jeremy Roenick missed an open net by shooting over the crossbar after a crossing pass from Simon Gagne.

Ottawa's Wade Redden then hit the post, ending a flurry of chances for both teams.

"Every goaltender is better when he faces a lot of shots," Cechmanek said. "After a while, I got a few saves and felt good."

The Flyers had won just three of their previous 17 games against Ottawa, including one of their last 10 at home.

Lalime made 23 saves and fell to 0-5 in the playoffs.

"I didn't see the play develop," Lalime said of the winning goal. "There was a big scramble, but I saw the shot at the last second. It happens."

Notes: Lauren Hart, the daughter of longtime former Flyers broadcaster Gene Hart, sang "God Bless America" before the game, alternating lyrics with Kate Smith, who was on a video image. The song has been a rallying anthem for the Flyers since Smith began singing it in the mid-1970s. . . . Ottawa's last road playoff win was 2-1 over New Jersey on April 22, 1998. The Senators won that series as a No. 8 seed. . . . Cechmanek was shaken up with 7:05 left when the crossbar hit him in the back after Dan McGillis checked Daniel Alfredsson behind the net, causing it to tumble forward. . . . The Flyers, who have the worst power play of all the playoff teams, got just one shot in their only opportunity with the man advantage. . . . Ottawa tied a franchise playoff record with the three shots allowed in the first period. . . . Philadelphia's 15 shots in regulation were its fewest all season. . . . It was the first 1-0 overtime playoff game in the Flyers' 35-year history. . . . The Flyers hadn't won an overtime playoff game at the First Union Center since moving into the building six years ago, losing five straight.