| |
RECAP
|
BOX SCORE
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) -- Tampa Bay Lightning coach Steve Ludzik has no
doubt which team is the NHL's best.
|  | | Tampa Bay's Paul Mara, left, applies some pressure to Shawn McEachern, who had an assist as the Sens' unbeaten streak reached nine games. |
Marian Hossa had a goal and an assist, extending his season-opening points streak to nine games, and rookie Jani Hurme
stopped 24 shots for his first shutout as the Ottawa Senators
remained unbeaten with a 6-0 victory Friday night over the
Lightning.
"They're the best team in the league," Ludzik said. "No question. Hands down. I realize we're a long way away from that echelon."
The Senators' (6-0-3) nine-game unbeaten streak is the second
longest in team history, behind an 11-game run (8-0-3) during the
1998-99 season. Colorado (8-0-2) is the NHL's only other undefeated
team.
"We're a good club, and we're trying to be better," Ottawa coach Jacques Martin said. "I think this is the best offense we've had since I've been here. We just got to get all the pieces together."
Hossa, who made it 5-0 at 4:08 of the third period, has four
goals and 17 points. Martin Havlat, Alexei Yashin, Magnus Arvedson,
Sami Salo and Radek Bonk had the other Ottawa goals.
"I think the good start was the most important thing," Bonk said. "They have a young team that if you give them the chance, they're going to be coming hard at you all night."
Bonk's goal, which made it 6-0 with 7:38 to play, came after he
was tripped by Pavel Kubina. Bonk, who also had two assists, went
airborne and then poked the puck past goalie Dieter Kochan.
Ottawa continued its first-period domination in taking a 2-0 lead on goals by Havlat, at 7:37, and Yashin, at 12:52. The Senators have outscored opponents 16-2 in the opening period.
Havlat's power-play goal was the ninth Tampa Bay allowed in 23 chances. The Lightning opened the season killing off 29 consecutive short-handed situations
The lead grew to 4-0 early in the second period when goals from
Arvedson at 41 seconds and Salo at 6:05 chased Tampa Bay goalie
Kevin Weekes.
"Obviously you have to respect them, but by the same token, you
can't over-respect them," Weekes said. "Maybe we did that
tonight. It was an opportunity for us to beat an undefeated team
and that would have been nice. We didn't put our best foot
forward."
Arvedson has five goals and 10 points during a seven-game scoring streak. Yashin has 15 goals and 34 points in 23 career games against Tampa Bay.
Hurme's first shutout came in his sixth career game. One of his best saves came midway through the first period when he robbed Kubina from point-blank range.
"Of course it's a good thing," Hurme said. "The main thing was to get those two points."
Game notes
Tampa Bay RW Mike Johnson left in the second period with a concussion. ... Senators RW Daniel Alfredsson (hip flexor), who
practiced Friday, missed his fourth straight game. ... Lightning D Petr Svoboda sat out with a strained hip flexor. ... Ottawa G Patrick Lalime (left knee) has missed five games and could be sidelined at least another week.
| |
ALSO SEE
NHL Scoreboard
Ottawa Clubhouse
Tampa Bay Clubhouse
RECAPS
Buffalo 2
Toronto 1
New Jersey 3
Carolina 3
Columbus 3
Washington 1
NY Islanders 2
Montreal 1
Ottawa 6
Tampa Bay 0
Minnesota 3
Calgary 1
Florida 3
Nashville 3
Pittsburgh 4
NY Rangers 1
Phoenix 4
Dallas 2
Atlanta 1
Vancouver 1
Anaheim 3
Edmonton 2
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Radek Bonk gets taken down but still scores.
avi: 690 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
|
