Gardiner Ignites Senators’ 2-0 Start

Bruce Gardiner had a goal and an assist as the Ottawa Senators defeated the Phoenix Coyotes, 4-1, Sunday to open the season with consecutive wins for the first time in franchise history.

Andreas Dackell scored for the second time in as many nights and Radek Bonk and Magnus Arvedson added goals for the Senators, who are unbeaten in their last eight road games dating back to last season.

Jeremy Roenick scored for the Coyotes, who lost a home opener for the first time since moving from Winnipeg before the 1996-97 season.

The Senators, who beat Colorado on Saturday, have posted a 2-1-4 mark in opening games since joining the NHL in 1992-93. But they failed in their only other chance to start 2-0-0, beating the Montreal Canadiens in the franchise’s first-ever game only to go winless in their next 10 games.

Damian Rhodes, who made 22 saves for his second consecutive victory, got all the offensive support he would need in the first 24 minutes on goals by Dackell, Bonk and Gardiner.