Lalime Stops Flyers in Senators’ 3-1 Win

The Ottawa Senators are one of the league’s hottest teams for one reason -- goaltending.

With Patrick Lalime again strong in goal, Peter Schaefer scored a tiebreaking goal 7:30 into the third period to help the Senators to a 3-1 victory over the Flyers on Saturday at Philadelphia.

Ottawa ended Philadelphia’s five-game unbeaten streak.

“He had some awesome saves,” Mike Fisher, who scored Ottawa’s first goal, said of Lalime. “He kept us in it and he was the story for our team. The win can be attributed to him.”

Lalime made 27 saves, and the Senators won their third in a row and seventh of eight.

“Patrick has been consistent all year,” said Daniel Alfredsson, who assisted on Fisher’s goal. “He had a so-so training camp but since we started in October, he’s been great for us.”

Lalime, who has lost only two of his last 15 starts, credited his teammates for his success.

“As a team we played well on defense,” he explained. “It’s not only the defensemen, it’s the fowards and everybody played a strong game.”

Schaefer, left uncovered in the slot, walked in and beat Roman Cechmanekr. Wade Redden also scored for the Senators, who have lost only two of their last 20 games. Redden’s goal was an empty-netter with 31 seconds left.

New Jersey 5, Dallas 3 -- Jeff Friesen scored the go-ahead goal on a giveaway by goaltender Marty Turco, and John Madden scored twice to lead the Devils at East Rutherford, N.J.

The Devils matched their season high for goals. It was the second time this season Dallas gave up five goals.

Detroit 3, New York Rangers 2 -- Nicklas Lidstrom and Igor Larionov each had a goal and an assist to lead the host Red Wings.

The defending Stanley Cup champions have lost once in 10 games, and the Rangers have won once in eight games.

It was Detroit’s seventh consecutive victory over the Rangers, dating to Jan. 20, 1999.

Pittsburgh 2, Calgary 0 -- Steve McKenna scored his first goal in nearly a year, and Johan Hedberg stopped 23 shots to help the Penguins end a 10-game winless streak.

The Flames haven’t won at Pittsburgh since Feb. 12, 1989.

NHL scoring leader Mario Lemieux had an assist for his first point in four games, ending the longest point drought of his career at 245 minutes 33 seconds.

Nashville 2, Tampa Bay 2 -- Tomas Vokoun made 40 saves, including 20 in the third period and overtime, to lead Nashville to a tie at Tampa, Fla.

Tampa Bay outshot the Predators, 16-2, in the third period.

San Jose 3, Toronto 3 -- Tomas Kaberle and Mats Sundin scored power-play goals in the third period, and Toronto rallied for a tie.

Ed Belfour made 26 saves for the Maple Leafs, who had won eight in a row at home -- one shy of tying the team record.

Florida 3, Boston 3 -- Ivan Novoseltsev and Viktor Kozlov each scored with less than a minute to play to tie the score for the visiting Panthers.

Boston appeared to have the game won until Shaone Morrionn was given a double minor for high sticking with 4:03 remaining, leading to Kozlov’s score.

Washington 3, New York Islanders 1 -- Michael Nylander scored the tying goal, missed a penalty shot, and then put Washington in front -- all in the third period at Uniondale, N.Y.

Washington is 21-1-3 in the last 25 games against the Islanders.

Montreal 6, Buffalo 2 -- Doug Gilmour scored twice, and Yanic Perreault and Saku Koivu each had a goal and two assists at Montreal.

The Canadiens, who scored all of their goals on their first 12 shots, were outshot, 38-16.

Colorado 4, Minnesota 2 -- Peter Forsberg and Rob Blake each had a goal and an assist at Denver, and the Avalanche won its second in a row under new Coach Tony Granato.

Minnesota peppered Patrick Roy with a team-record 47 shots.

Vancouver 4, Edmonton 3 -- Markus Naslund scored his league-leading 22nd goal during a two-man advantage in overtime to lift the host Canucks.

Naslund capitalized with a snap shot over the shoulder of goalkeeper Tommy Salo.