Senators clinch series win over Flyers on Havlat's OT goal

PHILADELPHIA -- One goal wasn't enough to save the Philadelphia Flyers' season.

Martin Havlat's goal 7:33 into overtime Friday night lifted Ottawa to a 2-1 victory over Philadelphia, and sent the Senators to the second round of the playoffs for the second time in the franchise's 10-year history.

Ottawa won the best-of-seven Eastern Conference quarterfinal series 4-1.

Despite plenty of talent -- seven players have been All-Stars, three have had 50-goal seasons -- and a payroll of $55.5 million, the Flyers were eliminated in the first round for the fourth time in five years.

"After that first game, we played with a lot of confidence," said Senators goaltender Patrick Lalime, who had 25 saves. "We believed we can do it. Everybody was on the same page."

With Keith Primeau serving a two-minute penalty for cross-checking, Ottawa took advantage.

Radek Bonk dug the puck out of the corner and passed it to Marian Hossa, who was to the left of Flyers goaltender Brian Boucher. Hossa sent a crossing pass to Havlat, who beat Boucher for his first career playoff goal.

"It was a great play by Radek and Marian," Havlat said. "It's a great feeling to win in overtime and finally get out of the first round."

The Flyers, shut out in their previous three games, finally scored on a power-play goal by Dan McGillis 3:53 into the game.

McGillis one-timed a pass from Eric Desjardins past Lalime for Philadelphia's first goal since Ruslan Fedotenko scored in overtime of Game 1.

Starting with Game 2, Ottawa's Lalime became just the fifth goalie to record three consecutive playoff shutouts -- and the second this season, joining Brent Johnson of St. Louis.

The Flyers established an NHL record for futility, becoming the first team to go five consecutive games -- dating to last season -- without scoring a goal in regulation time.

McGillis' goal snapped a string of 320 minutes, 36 seconds without a postseason regulation goal.

"I have no answers," Flyers coach Bill Barber said of the team's scoring slump. "It got to a point where it just snowballed."

Philadelphia's lead didn't last long.

Ottawa tied it on a power-play goal by Daniel Alfredsson with 4:44 left in the first. After the Flyers failed on three opportunities to clear the puck, Alfredsson one-timed a pass from Bonk over Boucher's glove, off the crossbar and in the net.

"We played more desperate," Alfredsson said. "We were jumping to the puck, winning battles. We were fighting for open space and we were skating better than they did."

Boucher, starting in place of Roman Cechmanek, made 25 saves. Boucher's previous playoff start came in Game 7 of the conference finals two years ago -- a 2-1 loss to New Jersey.

Boucher preserved a 1-1 tie with a glove save on a hard shot from in close by Shawn McEachern with seven minutes left in regulation. Bonk hit the post with just over a minute remaining.

Kim Johnsson had a chance to win it late in the third period for Philadelphia, but his slap shot bounced off Lalime's glove and trickled wide.

Lalime's best save came on rebound shot by Simon Gagne midway through the second.

Cechmanek allowed seven goals in four games, before being lifted after two periods of Game 3. After Ottawa's third goal Wednesday night, Cechmanek skated out to center ice and yelled at his teammates on the bench, imploring them to play better.

Some of the Flyers didn't appreciate Cechmanek's actions, but Barber insisted that wasn't the reason for the change.

"It's disappointing," Boucher said. "We were predicted to come out of the East. On paper, everybody thought we could be that team."

Notes:

Flyers right winger Mark Recchi returned after missing Game 4 because of headaches resulting from a hit by Senators defenseman Zdeno Chara during in Game 3. . . . The Flyers were 1-for-16 on the power-play. . . . The only other time the Senators reached the second round in the franchise's 10 years was in 1998 when they lost to Washington in five games. They beat New Jersey to advance. . . . As a No. 2 seed last year and in 1999, Ottawa lost in the first round.