-----------------------------
Ottawa 0 0 0--0
Carolina 2 1 1--4
-----------------------------
FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: 1, Carolina, Willis 5 (Francis, Ozolinsh),
0:09. 2, Carolina, Vasicek 3 (Oneill), 11:31. Penalties: Rivers, Ott
(hooking), 5:03; Rachunek, Ott (interference), 9:22; Carolina bench,
served by Langdon (too many men on the ice), 13:18; Ozolinsh, Car
(interference), 16:32; Hossa, Ott (goalie interference), 20:00.
SECOND PERIOD -- Scoring: 3, Carolina, Tanabe 1 (power play) (Francis,
Willis), 19:56. Penalties: Langdon, Car (goalie interference), 6:31;
Hatcher, Car (cross checking), 9:20; Ozolinsh, Car (slashing), 13:54;
Forbes, Ott (tripping), 19:00.
THIRD PERIOD -- Scoring: 4, Carolina, Willis 6 (unassisted), 1:08.
Penalties: Langdon, Car (tripping), 2:08; Willis, Car (slashing), 5:32;
Halko, Car (tripping), 6:50; Bonk, Ott (boarding), 11:38; Karpa, Car
(cross checking), 14:43.
Shots on goal:
---------------------------------
Ottawa 10 8 11--29
Carolina 13 10 5--28
---------------------------------
Power-play Conversions: Ott - 0 of 9, Car - 1 of 5. Goalies: Ottawa,
Hurme (28 shots, 24 saves; record: 6-2-3). Carolina, Irbe (29, 29; record:
4-5-3). A:12,003. Referees: Maguire, Trottier. Linesmen: Broseker, M
Pare.
INDIVIDUAL PLAYER STATISTICS
Ottawa Carolina
G A +/- Shots G A +/- Shots
Arvedson 0 0 -2 1 Adams 0 0 even 1
Bonk 0 0 -1 1 Battaglia 0 0 even 2
Dackell 0 0 -1 1 Brindamour 0 0 even 1
Emmons 0 0 even 2 Dimaio 0 0 even 0
Forbes 0 0 even 1 Francis 0 2 +2 1
Havlat 0 0 -1 3 G Wesley 0 0 +1 1
Hossa 0 0 -1 4 Gelinas 0 0 +1 1
Mceachern 0 0 -1 2 Halko 0 0 even 0
Phillips 0 0 -2 0 Hatcher 0 0 +1 3
Rachunek 0 0 even 0 Kapanen 0 0 +2 4
Redden 0 0 -1 1 Karpa 0 0 +2 0
Rivers 0 0 even 3 Langdon 0 0 even 1
Roy 0 0 even 0 Oneill 0 1 +1 1
Salo 0 0 -2 3 Ozolinsh 0 1 +2 4
V Prospal 0 0 -1 1 T Westlund 0 0 even 1
Yashin 0 0 -1 2 Tanabe 1 0 even 3
York 0 0 -1 4 Vasicek 1 0 +1 1
Zamuner 0 0 even 0 Willis 2 1 +2 3
Game Story
RALEIGH, North Carolina (Ticker) -- Arturs Irbe recorded his
first shutout of the season and the Carolina Hurricanes led for
59 minutes, 51 seconds en route to a 4-0 victory over the Ottawa
Senators in a battle of division leaders.
Criticized for his play early this season, Irbe came up with his
best effort against the Eastern Conference's best team. The
diminutive Latvian stopped 29 shots for his 25th career shutout
and first in 12 appearances against Ottawa.
Rookie Shane Willis opened the scoring nine seconds into the
game and capped it 68 seconds into the third period for the
Hurricanes, who leapfrogged idle Tampa Bay into first place in
the weak Southeast Division.
"I don't think we're particularly lucky and I don't think
there's a reason for understanding it," Carolina coach Paul
Maurice said of his team's mood. "The guys, each one of them,
has something to bring. And in the last two games, they've done
that and we've been successful."
Youngsters Josef Vasicek and David Tanabe had the other goals
for Carolina (5-8-3-0), which has posted consecutive wins for
the first time this season.
The Senators have been outscored, 10-4, during a season-high
three-game losing streak. They were shut out for the first time
since a 1-0 loss at Buffalo last January 28.
Willis scored the fastest goal from the start of a game in
franchise history, beating rookie goaltender Jani Hurme at the
nine-second mark. Off the opening faceoff, defenseman Sandis
Ozolinsh passed to Willis, who broke in alone and shot the puck
between Hurme's pads.
Kevin Dineen set the previous franchise record when he scored
for the Hartford Whalers 10 seconds into a 4-2 victory over
Montreal on December 3, 1990.
"You don't want to get behind the eight ball right off the
start," Ottawa coach Jacques Martin said. "We made some
mistakes and they capitalized, and sometimes it's tough to come
back in this league.
Vasicek made it even tougher, scoring his third goal of the
season at 11:31 to make it 2-0.
Tanabe padded the lead on the power play with 3.5 seconds left
in the second period, getting his first goal since last season's
penultimate game.
Maurice credited the presence of veteran Kevin Hatcher for
bolstering the Hurricanes' defense.
"The difference he makes in our back end, it's no wonder we're
playing strong and playing well," he said. "And the power-play
goals, we're pretty happy with the way it's picked up."
Willis completed his first career two-goal game early in the
final period. He has six goals, tying for the rookie lead with
Ottawa's Martin Havlat, Minnesota's Marian Gaborik and Los
Angeles' Steven Reinprecht.
Hurme stopped 24 shots for the Senators, who were 0-for-8 on the
power play. They are 2-for-25 over the last five games.
"We couldn't get a power-play goal. If we could score a
power-play goal, we're back in the game in the second period,"
Martin said. "We had some chances. We've got to be better."