Thrashers' three-game win streak ends
OTTAWA (AP) -- Marian Hossa scored twice and Daniel Alfredsson had a
goal and an assist Sunday to lead the Ottawa Senators to a 5-2 victory
over the Atlanta Thrashers.
Hossa, who scored early in the third period, was awarded his second
goal of the game without taking a shot on a power play in the game's
final minute. Atlanta forward Ilya Kovalchuk threw his stick and
knocked the puck from Hossa on an empty-net breakaway with 43 seconds
left.
Defensemen Karel Rachunek and Chris Phillips also scored and Peter
Schaefer had two assists, helping the Senators extend their season-high
unbeaten streak to six games (4-0-2).
Ronald Petrovicky and Patrik Stefan scored for Atlanta, whose
three-game winning streak ended.
The Thrashers are winless in their last seven games (0-6-1) against
Ottawa, which has outscored Atlanta 16-8 overall while winning all
three meetings this season.
Rachunek opened the scoring 15:01 in with his first goal of the season.
The Czech defenseman received a cross-ice pass from Schaefer and took a
sharply angled shot that deflected off Atlanta defenseman Garnet
Exelby's stick and beat goalie Pasi Nurminen through the legs.
Phillips, who hadn't scored since the season opener Oct. 9, put the
Senators up by two 7:23 into the second, beating Nurminen with a shot
through traffic for his second of the season -- his first in 34 games.
Alfredsson made it 3-0 at 12:47 when he scored on the last of a flurry
of Ottawa shots after Nurminen turned over the puck on a failed
clearing attempt along the left boards.
Petrovicky scored with 48.7 seconds left in the period, beating Lalime
for his 11th of the season just six seconds after exiting the penalty
box after serving an minor penalty for elbowing.
Hossa made it 4-1 when he scored 1:43 into the third.
Stefan got a power-play goal at 5:43 for his sixth goal of the season.
Game notes
Thrashers left wing Bill Lindsay drew 17 minutes in penalties -- a
minor, a major and a misconduct -- for instigating a fight with Ottawa
defenseman Shane Hnidy, who landed numerous punches in a one-sided
bout. ... Atlanta had season-high four-game winning streaks twice, from
Nov. 16-23, and again from Dec. 5-12. ... Senators C Radek Bonk missed
his second straight game because of the flu. ... Rachunek hadn't scored
since March 21 in Atlanta, a span of 38 games.