Senators spank Flyers behind Hossa's four-point game
PHILADELPHIA -- The Ottawa Senators aren't intimidated playing at the
First Union Center.
Marian Hossa had two goals and two assists and Jani Hurme made 26
saves, lifting Ottawa to a 7-2 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers on
Thursday night.
The Senators snapped a four-game losing streak and improved to 5-1-1 in
their last seven games in Philadelphia. The Flyers hadn't lost at home
in their first three games.
"We feel comfortable in this building," Hossa said. "The fans are
usually pumped up and that pumps us up. We get a good start and go from
there."
Magnus Arvedson also scored and had two assists for Ottawa, which
improved to 4-3 on the road. The Senators are winless in four games at
home.
Kim Johnsson and Jan Hlavac had goals for the Flyers.
"This is not acceptable," Flyers center Jeremy Roenick said. "It isn't
one thing we have to practice. There's a number of things."
Chris Phillips gave the Senators a 1-0 lead when he lifted a backhander
over Flyers goaltender Roman Cechmanek's shoulder with 4:48 left in the
first. Defenseman Eric Desjardins lost the puck behind the net, setting
up the goal.
Hossa made it 2-0 on a shorthanded goal with 31 seconds left in the
first. He beat Desjardins to a loose puck, went around him easily,
skated down the left side and fired a slap shot past Cechmanek.
Desjardins, playing his first game since stepping down as team captain
on Tuesday, was on the ice for three of Ottawa's first four goals.
"Hossa's goal was a big goal at the end," Senators coach Jacques Martin
said. "It was a real good play by (Curtis) Leschyshyn even though he
did not get an assist."
Shawn McEachern scored midway through the second for a 3-0 lead, and
the Senators scored three goals in 4:16 early in the third to put the
game away.
Johnsson cut it to 4-1 less than three minutes into the third with a
slap shot that slipped between Hurme's pads.
Cechmanek was lifted for Brian Boucher after Arvedson's goal made it
5-1.
"It was an embarrassing night," Flyers coach Bill Barber said. "I wish
I had some answers. I don't.
"We have to take a serious look at everything and say, 'When are we
going to take a stand? When are we going to not let things like this
happen when the puck may not be bouncing our way?' We have to learn to
battle through the elements. We have not made a strong enough step in
that direction," he said.
Notes: Keith Primeau played his 100th game with the Flyers and first as
captain. ... Roenick was a minus-5. ... Linesman Pat Dapuzzo was helped
off the ice with 14:26 left in the first period after getting hit in
the face with the puck. He returned to start the second period. ...
Flyers right winger Pavel Brendl played his first game since injuring
his right ankle in the season opener. ... McEachern has 29 career
points against the Flyers, the most he has against any team. ... The
Senators have outscored the Flyers 21-3 in their last four victories at
the First Union Center. ... The seven goals were the most allowed by
the Flyers since the Penguins scored nine on Feb. 7. ... Wayne Gretzky,
part-owner of the Phoenix Coyotes, attended the game.