Senators hold spell on Sabres

BUFFALO - Even without a full lineup, the Ottawa Senators still have the Buffalo Sabres' number.

Jason Spezza, Daniel Alfredsson and Chris Kelly had a goal and assist each, Brian Elliott made 41 saves, and the shorthanded Senators beat the Sabres for the ninth straight time, 4-2, last night.

The win pulled the Senators within five points of first-place Buffalo in the Northeast Division. The Sabres, though, have two games in hand.

Ottawa won despite being without third-leading scorer Alex Kovalev, who missed his first game because of a lower-body injury, and leading goal scorer Milan Michalek, who has a leg injury that has forced him to miss four games.

The Senators then lost second-leading scorer Mike Fisher when he received a five-minute boarding penalty and a game misconduct with 4 minutes, 28 seconds to go in the first period after he shoved Buffalo agitator Patrick Kaleta from behind and into the end boards.

Ottawa 1 2 1 – 4

Buffalo 0 1 1 – 2

First period: 1, Ottawa, Kelly 15 (Ruutu, Neil), 6:42. Penalties: Z.Smith, Ott, major (fighting), 2:57; Kaleta, Buf, major (fighting), 2:57; Fisher, Ott, major-misconduct (boarding), 15:32; Connolly, Buf (slashing), 16:41.

Second period: 2, Ottawa, Regin 11 (Spezza, Carkner), 5:36. 3, Buffalo, Kennedy 9 (Gaustad), 10:52. 4, Ottawa, Spezza 20 (Alfredsson, Karlsson), 14:03 (pp). Penalties: Shannon, Ott (interference), 7:11; Lydman, Buf (tripping), 13:40; Montador, Buf (cross-checking), 19:27.

Third period: 5, Buffalo, Pominville 22, 1:34. 6, Ottawa, Alfredsson 19 (Ruutu, Kelly), 19:59 (en). Penalties: Ottawa bench, served by Shannon (too many men), 17:04.

Shots on Goal: Ottawa 10-11-9–30. Buffalo 17-14-12–43.

Power-play opportunities: Ottawa 1 of 2; Buffalo 0 of 4.

Goalies: Ottawa, Elliott 26-17-3 (43 shots-41 saves). Buffalo, Miller 37-16-8 (29-26).

Referees: Greg Kimmerly, Kerry Fraser. Linesmen: Mike Cvik, Brian Murphy.

Attendance: 18,690 (18,690). Time: 2:32.

Red Wings 6, Wild 2

DETROIT - Johan Franzen had two goals and two assists for his first career four-point game in Detroit's victory over Minnesota.

Minnesota 0 1 1 – 2

Detroit 0 4 2 – 6

First period: None. Penalties: Miettinen, Min (holding), 1:07; Schultz, Min (delay of game), 4:36; Scott, Min (hooking), 11:21; Kronwall, Det (holding stick), 16:35.

Second period: 1, Detroit, Franzen 8 (Ja.Williams), 1:19. 2, Detroit, Holmstrom 21 (Lidstrom, Franzen), 4:32 (pp). 3, Detroit, Ericsson 4 (Lidstrom, Kronwall), 10:03 (sh). 4, Detroit, Datsyuk 24 (Franzen, Ericsson), 11:23. 5, Minnesota, Brunette 23 (Zidlicky, Ebbett), 16:07 (pp). Penalties: Brodziak, Min (tripping), 1:31; Miettinen, Min (slashing), 3:16; Ericsson, Det (interference), 7:45; Detroit bench, served by Franzen (too many men), 9:01; Eaves, Det (hooking), 15:58.

Third period: 6, Minnesota, Nolan 15 (Sheppard, Burns), 2:09. 7, Detroit, Franzen 9 (Holmstrom, Datsyuk), 5:29 (pp). 8, Detroit, Miller 9 (Ja.Williams, Draper), 7:26. Penalties: Schultz, Min (unsportsmanlike conduct), 3:38; Clutterbuck, Min (interference), 12:11; Bertuzzi, Det (goaltender interference), 12:45; Havlat, Min (holding), 17:59; Clutterbuck, Min (unsportsmanlike conduct, roughing), 18:51.

Shots on Goal: Minnesota 9-9-9–27. Detroit 13-19-10–42.

Power-play opportunities: Minnesota 1 of 5; Detroit 2 of 9.

Goalies: Minnesota, Harding 9-12-0 (32 shots-28 saves), Backstrom (0:00 third, 10-8). Detroit, Howard 31-15-9 (27-25).

Referees: Dan O'Rourke, Dennis LaRue. Linesmen: Greg Devorski, Anthony Sericolo.

Attendance: 20,066 (20,066). Time: 2:27.

Ducks 3, Oilers 2

EDMONTON, Alberta - Corey Perry scored two power-play goals in a span of 1:35 in the third period in Anaheim's victory over Edmonton.

Perry gave the Oilers the lead with 7:30 left, then added his 26th goal of the season with 5:55 remaining.

Anaheim 1 0 2 – 3

Edmonton 0 1 1 – 2

First period: 1, Anaheim, Parros 3 (Carter, Beleskey), 8:18. Penalties: Deslauriers, Edm, served by Stortini (interference), 14:17.

Second period: 2, Edmonton, Brule 16 (Gilbert, Whitney), 5:52. Penalties: Parros, Ana, major (fighting), 2:37; Stortini, Edm, major (fighting), 2:37; Carter, Ana (delay of game), 7:49; Brookbank, Ana (tripping), 11:25; Bonino, Ana (hooking), 19:34.

Third period: 3, Anaheim, Perry 25 (Selanne, Niedermayer), 12:30 (pp). 4, Anaheim, Perry 26 (Selanne, Visnovsky), 14:05 (pp). 5, Edmonton, Pouliot 6 (Whitney, Johnson), 19:40 (pp). Penalties: Koivu, Ana (slashing), 3:32; Brule, Edm (goaltender interference), 5:38; Carter, Ana (cross-checking), 9:45; Whitney, Edm (slashing), 11:00; Ryan, Ana (roughing), 11:29; Arsene, Edm (roughing), 11:29; Chorney, Edm (slashing), 12:13; Brown, Ana, major-misconduct (fighting), 14:08; Arsene, Edm, major-misconduct (fighting), 14:08; Mikkelson, Ana (hooking), 18:08; Brookbank, Ana (roughing), 19:31; Whitney, Edm, misconduct, 20:00.

Shots on Goal: Anaheim 10-14-16–40. Edmonton 10-11-15–36.

Power-play opportunities: Anaheim 2 of 4; Edmonton 1 of 7.

Goalies: Anaheim, McElhinney 5-4-0 (36 shots-34 saves). Edmonton, Deslauriers 15-26-3 (40-37).

Referees: Dan O'Halloran, Francois St. Laurent. Linesmen: Lyle Seitz, Jay Sharrers.

Attendance: 16,839 (16,839). Time: 2:26.