Ottawa Gets Another Coach, but Keeps Losing

The Ottawa Senators aren’t last in the league in everything. In fact, they lead the NHL this season in one category--coaches.

On Wednesday, they gave the job to Colorado assistant Jacques Martin. Hours earlier, the league’s perennial doormat fired Dave Allison two months after he replaced Rick Bowness.

General Manager Pierre Gauthier dumped four players, acquired two, got rid of his entire coaching staff and hired Martin.

Martin lost to the Pittsburgh Penguins, 4-3, in his debut Wednesday as Peter Nedved and Joe Dziedzic scored third-period goals at Kanata, Ontario. It was Ottawa’s 10th consecutive loss.

St. Louis 6, Winnipeg 5--Brian Noonan scored midway through the third period to lift the Blues to victory at Winnipeg.

Also scoring for the Blues were Tony Twist, Geoff Courtnall, Dale Hawerchuk, Shayne Corson and Brett Hull.

Buffalo 4, Hartford 2--Derek Plante’s slap shot early in the third period lifted the Sabres to the victory at Buffalo. Plante also helped set up two goals.

New York 4, Philadelphia 4--Mark Messier had two goals and two assists and the Rangers extended their home-ice unbeaten streak to 22 games with the victory at New York.

Chicago 2, Toronto 2--Kirk Muller scored Toronto’s first goal in his debut with the Maple Leafs and Mike Gartner scored with 4:08 left in the third period at Toronto.

Chicago had goals by Brent Sutter and Tony Amonte.

Detroit 4, San Jose 2--The Sharks tied an unbreakable record for futility at Detroit.

San Jose, with the NHL’s second-worst record, did not put a shot on goal in the second period.

Calgary 4, New York 1--Theoren Fleury scored two goals and added an assist to lead the Flames at Calgary.

Dallas 5, Edmonton 3--Defenseman Kevin Hatcher’s third goal of the night snapped a tie and lifted the Stars at Edmonton.

NHL Notes

Buffalo Sabre winger Donald Audette is to have reconstructive knee surgery Friday and will sit out the rest of the season. He was found to have a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee.