VIDEO: http://scores.espn.go.com/nhl/recap?gameId=231201014
Havlat scores twice in win
OTTAWA (AP) -- The NHL-leading Philadelphia Flyers came up short again
against the Ottawa Senators.
Martin Havlat scored twice to help Ottawa end Philadelphia's 12-game
unbeaten streak with a 4-1 victory Monday night.
Ottawa has eliminated Philadelphia, a point ahead of Vancouver in the
overall standings, from the playoffs the last two seasons.
"I think there are some psychological issues that need to get dealt
with," Flyers coach Ken Hitchcock said. "Whether we've got to draw them
out or whatever, I think those are real and they've got to get dealt
with.
"If we want to be a championship team, we cannot pretend that the
psychological issues are going to be hidden. ... They are preventing
people from performing at their best."
Philadelphia, 10-0-2 in November, has lost just three times in
regulation and hadn't been defeated since a 3-2 loss in New Jersey on
Oct. 30.
Havlat opened the scoring early in the second period, the first time
the Senators have scored the first goal in a game since Nov. 3. He made
it 2-0 late in the period with a power-play goal.
"We haven't been starting very well," Senators center Shaun Van Allen.
"We're always behind the 8-ball, and you have to put so much energy
just to come back and tie. It's so much easier for the team that scores
first."
Flyers captain Keith Primeau scored a short-handed goal early in the
third, beating goalie Martin Prusek on a two-on-one rush with
defenseman Eric Weinrich while Ottawa was on a two-man advantage.
Senators defenseman Anton Volchenkov restored Ottawa's two-goal lead
midway through the period, scoring his first goal of the season off a
centering pass from Marian Hossa.
The Senators were denied a goal with 4:18 remaining when a video review
determined that Hossa's pass in front on a power play was kicked in by
Radek Bonk at the edge of the crease.
Daniel Alfredsson scored into an empty net with 1:16 left.
Ottawa improved to 3-4-0-2 in its last nine games.
"I think it's always a close game against them," Alfredsson said. "It's
two really good teams that have been playing really well defensively
the last few years. This year, they're the much better team than us so
far, but we play them really tight every time we play them."
Prusek made 31 saves, starting in place of Patrick Lalime, who fell ill
with the flu prior to the game.
"It was a big effort from everyone," Alfredsson said. "We know
Philadelphia pretty good, and they know us pretty good. I thought our
goaltender was better tonight and we scored our goals at the right
time."
Neither of Havlat's goals came on direct shots on goal.
On the first, Havlat's attempted pass to Bonk struck Weinrich's right
skate and was redirected past goalie Robert Esche into an open left
side.
Havlat made it 2-0 just four seconds after Ottawa failed to score on a
four-on-three power play. With the puck behind the goal line, Havlat
fired the puck into the crease at Esche, banking the puck into the net
off the goalie's right pad.
"I never saw the puck," Esche said. "Once I heard it hit the boards, it
was already coming out. (Havlat) made a good play and banked it off me.
It was a fluky goal. Obviously, I'm not happy with any goal I give up,
but that happens."
Game notes
The Flyers have held their opponents scoreless through the first period
in 16 of 23 games. ... Philadelphia has allowed the opening goal just
eight times. It was the only the seventh time Ottawa has opened the
scoring.