SPORTS: Senators strong in opener

Senators strong in opener

By Compiled from Times wires
© St. Petersburg Times
published April 26, 2003

OTTAWA - It didn't take the Flyers very long Friday night to equal their entire goal output of a year ago in an embarrassing first-round playoff loss to the Senators.

In losing that five-game series, the Flyers totaled two goals. They matched it in 11 minutes Friday.

They lost anyway.

Marian Hossa had a goal and two assists as Ottawa scored three times in the second period of a 4-2 win in Game1 of a best-of-seven East semifinal series.

"Once we scored that first goal we had the crowd on our side and got the momentum," Hossa said. "We knew we hadn't played a good period and we could only get better and we did."

The Senators, playing for the first time in eight days, rallied on goals by Hossa, Martin Havlat and Daniel Alfredsson. It was the fifth consecutive victory this postseason for Ottawa.

"I think we realized we had just had our bad period," Ottawa's Todd White said. "Then it was over and we knew we had time to come back."

Zdeno Chara also scored and added an assist for the top-seeded Senators.

"They're an explosive team," said center Jeremy Roenick, who assisted on both Philadelphia goals. "They got a couple of bounces and (things) shifted their way."

After eliminating Toronto in a seventh game Tuesday night, the Flyers were looking to avenge their loss last year to Ottawa, when Patrick Lalime shut them out three times.

Tony Amonte and Sami Kapanen scored on Philadelphia's first two shots. But Lalime settled down and finished with 23 saves.

"Two shots, two goals, then we turned it around," Lalime said. "We haven't played in a while. We got the legs going. They got some good scoring chances right off the bat."

Late in the third, Lalime came far out of the net to clear a loose puck and was knocked to the ice by Claude Lapointe. Lalime was down for about two minutes, but returned and finished.

"I didn't see the way he did it," Lalime said. "It didn't feel that good, but it's part of the game."

Bryan Smolinski had two assists for the Senators, who took the lead on Alfredsson's goal against Roman Cechmanek at 9:32 of the second.

Cechmanek was shaky, making 13 saves as Ottawa rallied from a two-goal deficit for the first time in its playoff history.

Senators coach Jacques Martin threw a new look at the Flyers when he opened with a checking line of center Mike Fisher between Vaclav Varada and Chris Neil.

Amonte took a lead pass from Roenick, crossed the blue line and snapped the first shot of the game over the glove hand of Lalime 1:19 in. Kapanen picked up a loose puck in the slot and fired the Flyers' second shot past Lalime at 10:48.

Lalime made his first save on a 150-foot Flyers clearing attempt during an Ottawa power play, and drew a loud mock cheer when he stopped a good chance by Keith Primeau moments later.

It took Ottawa, the NHL's third-highest scoring team during the regular season, almost eight minutes to get its first shot on Cechmanek.

But in the second, Cechmanek was the one allowing soft goals. Havlat and Hossa scored 2:59 apart, and it was tied by 5:33.

Flyers coach Ken Hitchcock was not happy with his goaltender.

"He is just going to have to be better," Hitchcock said.

With the Senators on the power play, Alfredsson scored on a wrist shot from the blue line that beat Cechmanek to the short side for a 3-2 lead.

Senators left wing Peter Schaefer missed the game with a groin injury. He was replaced by forward Jody Hull. With Eric Desjardins out with a broken foot, Philadelphia dressed fellow defenseman Jim Vandermeer.

AVALANCHE: Peter Forsberg might return home to Sweden to finish his playing career, the Chicago Tribune reported.

The Tribune said word is spreading among the Swedish players in the league that Forsberg will not return to Colorado next season and instead play for MoDo in the Swedish League.

Forsberg, 29, is a restricted free agent this season after making $9.5-million this past season.

Forsberg's agent, Don Baizley, said Forsberg hasn't made a decision on his plans. Forsberg will play for Sweden in the upcoming World Championships.

Forsberg has said he would like to return to Sweden, possibly to end his playing career. He played parts of five seasons for MoDo before being drafted by Philadelphia in 1991.

RANGERS: With it becoming more apparent that Glen Sather will not return as New York's coach, Craig MacTavish, who has coached Edmonton the past three seasons, might be emerging as a candidate to succeed him, the New York Times reported.

MacTavish's contract in Edmonton runs out June30 and Kevin Lowe, the Oilers general manager, said Thursday that re-signing MacTavish might prove difficult.

"I have some concerns as to whether MacT is going to come back," Lowe told reporters in Edmonton.

Sather also is the Rangers general manager and president. Unless the Oilers give permission, he would have to wait until July1 to speak with MacTavish.

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