Jackets winless in 8 road games
OTTAWA (AP) -- Marian Hossa and the Ottawa Senators put up a
record-setting performance against what was one of the best
penalty-killing units.
Hossa scored two of Ottawa's team-record five power-play goals as the
Senators overcame an early deficit and beat the Columbus Blue Jackets
5-2 Thursday night.
Radek Bonk, Zdeno Chara, and Wade Redden also scored for Ottawa, which
allowed a short-handed goal to David Vyborny on its first power play.
The Senators trailed 2-0 just 8:03 in.
"We know we've got a really good power play," Senators captain Daniel
Alfredsson said. "There's no secret about it, and if you give us that
many chances, there aren't a lot of nights where you're going to stop
us."
Trevor Letowski scored on a power play early in the first for Columbus,
which entered with the NHL's second-best penalty killers.
"We knew they were doing a really good job," Hossa said. "After the
first period, we said the wingers had to jump on the puck when it was
in their zone on the power play. That gave us extra seconds in their
zone, and we kept it simple and good things happened."
The Blue Jackets, who allowed just five power-play goals in their first
14 games, are winless in eight road games.
"We had so many power plays, it seemed like we had practice tonight on
the power play," Hossa said.
Ottawa, which went 5-for-12 with the man advantage, has won two in a
row after going winless in five.
"You give a team like that that many opportunities, they're going to
score a goal or two, but not five," goalie Fred Brathwaite said. "Our
PK's way too good to give up five goals."
Columbus coach Doug MacLean wasn't happy Ottawa got so many
opportunities. He was particularly upset that Senators coach Jacques
Martin used his top power-play unit the whole game.
"I guess we're a dirty team because it was an endless parade to the
penalty box," MacLean said. "Jacques had a chance to work on his power
play, even late in the game. It was good practice for them."
Hossa, who missed Tuesday's 5-3 win in Atlanta because of a bruised
left toe, had four points, including an assist on Bonk's goal midway
through the first.
"Actually it was not bad," Hossa said. "It feels better in a skate than
in a shoe."
Bonk tipped Alfredsson's slap shot from the right point past Brathwaite
at 9:46. The goal, which drew Ottawa within 2-1, stood after a lengthy
video review.
"The first goal was a high stick," MacLean said. "Four guys on the ice
(the officials) and the video goal judge didn't see it. How is that?
Everybody else saw it."
Chara tied it 2:12 into the second.
Hossa gave the Senators the lead with his eighth goal as he moved into
the slot and beat Brathwaite 17 seconds into Ottawa's fourth power play
at 12:33.
The Senators made it 4-2 in the second and tied a team record for
power-play goals in a period when Redden scored their third at 17:06.
Hossa set the game record 2:35 into the third when he put a shot past
Brathwaite from the edge of the crease for his third two-goal game of
the season.
Chara knocked two Blue Jackets out of the game in the second. Vyborny
bruised his left arm midway through the period on a slash by Chara. He
hit Espen Knutsen moments later forcing him to leave with a bruised hip.
Letowski helped get Columbus off to a quick start 2:50 in when he
tipped defenseman Duvie Westcott's shot under Patrick Lalime. The puck
trickled in for his second goal and first in four games since missing
nine after breaking his right little finger.
Vyborny scored his third short-handed goal of the season on a
two-on-one at 8:03.
Game Notes: It was the most power-play goals Columbus allowed in its
four seasons. Columbus had twice previously given up four. ...
Letowski's goal was originally -- and mistakenly -- credited to
Knutsen. Knutsen has four assists but has yet to score. He has gone 23
games without a goal, dating to Feb. 23. ... Senators D Anton
Volchenkov returned after missing seven games because of a concussion.
D Curtis Leschyshyn was a healthy scratch. ... Ottawa has scored four
power-play goals in a game four times.