Senators Rise to the Occasion

In one of the biggest games in team history, the Ottawa Senators’ Alexei Yashin and Damian Rhodes turned in their biggest performances of the season.

Yashin scored three goals and Rhodes got his 10th career shutout, as the Senators defeated the Flyers, 5-0, at Philadelphia Thursday night and set a team record for victories in a season.

“It’s always nice to get a hat trick, but the credit has to go to my teammates because they created the opportunities,” said Yashin, who also had an assist.

The Senators’ 35th victory gave them sole possession of first place in the Eastern Conference, and eclipsed the team record set last season.

Toronto 4, St. Louis 0--The Maple Leafs forced an early debut for new Blues’ goalie Jim Carey, chasing rookie Brent Johnson from the net with three goals on their first five shots in a victory at St. Louis. The Maple Leafs won despite setting a team record with only nine shots. It also was a record for fewest shots allowed by the Blues, who have been shut out eight times.

Dallas 3, New York Islanders 2--Joe Nieuwendyk’s tip-in with 47.7 seconds left in overtime gave the Stars a victory at Uniondale, N.Y. Dallas, which outshot the Islanders, 6-1, in overtime, increased its NHL-best points total to 88 and set a franchise road record with a 10-game unbeaten streak (8-0-2).

Tampa Bay 2, Colorado 1--Benoit Hogue had two first-period goals at Tampa, Fla., and the Lightning ended the Avalanche’s 10-game road unbeaten streak. Colorado center Peter Forsberg, who extended his point streak to nine games with his 22nd goal, hurt his left elbow during a second-period collision and did not return.

New York Rangers 4, Washington 2--The Rangers scored three goals in less than two minutes late in the game and moved within two points of the final Eastern Conference playoff spot with a victory at Washington. It was the Rangers’ sixth victory when trailing after two periods and the first time the Capitals, who led 1-0 after two, lost when leading after two periods.

Around the league

The season of Florida Panther winger Pavel Bure took another detour Thursday when MRI tests revealed torn cartilage in his right knee that will sideline him at least two weeks. He was scheduled to undergo surgery today. Despite playing only 11 games after a holdout and another knee injury, Bure has 13 goals, fifth on the Panthers. . . . Pittsburgh Penguin goaltender Tom Barrasso will be out at least four weeks because of a broken right hand suffered while trying to catch a shot during a game Wednesday.

Toronto Maple Leaf center Alyn McCauley was released from a hospital and is recovering at home from a concussion suffered in a game Wednesday. . . . The New York Rangers claimed left wing Mike Maneluk off waivers from the Chicago Blackhawks.

Phoenix Coyote defenseman Gerald Diduck will be out at least four weeks because of a broken foot. Diduck, 34, was hurt when hit by a shot in the third period of Tuesday’s loss to the Boston Bruins. . . . Blackhawk center Doug Gilmour might miss Saturday’s game because of lower-back pain caused by an inflamed nerve, the team said.