GAME THREAD: NHL: OTTAWA (8-1) at NEW JERSEY (3-6)

NHL: OTTAWA at NEW JERSEY

<div class="pre">NHL END OF THE 2ND 1ST 2ND 3RD TOTAL
--- --- --- -----
OTTAWA 0 1 1
NEW JERSEY 0 1 1 END OF THE 2ND

GOAL SCORING:

1ST PRD: NONE
2ND PRD: OTT - ANDREJ MESZAROS 2 (JASON SPEZZA, DANY HEATLEY) 5:01
NJD - (PP) BRIAN GIONTA 3 (PATRIK ELIAS, PAUL MARTIN) 14:00

SHOTS ON GOAL: 1ST 2ND 3RD TOTAL
--- --- --- -----
OTT 5 10 15
NJD 18 5 23

GOALIES: OTT - MARTIN GERBER
NJD - MARTIN BRODEUR</div>

 

NHL: OTTAWA at NEW JERSEY

<div class="pre">------------------------------
Ottawa 0 1 --1
New Jersey 0 1 --1
------------------------------

FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: None.

SECOND PERIOD -- Scoring: 1, Ottawa, Andrej Meszaros 2 (Jason Spezza,
Dany Heatley), 5:01. 2, New Jersey, Brian Gionta 3 (power play)
(Patrik Elias, Paul Martin), 14:00. Penalties: D Heatley, Ott (cross
checking), 0:54; T Zajac, Njd (hooking), 9:43; D Heatley, Ott
(slashing), 13:22; A Greene, Njd (roughing), 15:56.

Shots on goal:
----------------------------------
Ottawa 5 10 --15
New Jersey 18 5 --23
----------------------------------

Goalies : Ottawa, Martin Gerber (23 shots, 22 saves). New Jersey,
Martin Brodeur (15 shots, 14 saves). Referees: Ian Walsh, Rob
Martell. Linesmen: Jean Morin, Steve Miller.</div>

 

NHL: OTTAWA at NEW JERSEY

<div class="pre">NHL OTTAWA 1
NEW JERSEY 1 19:55 LEFT, 3RD PRD</div>

 

NHL: OTTAWA at NEW JERSEY

<div class="pre">NHL OTTAWA 1
NEW JERSEY 1 16:05 LEFT, 3RD PRD</div>

 

NHL: OTTAWA at NEW JERSEY

<div class="pre">NHL OTTAWA 1
NEW JERSEY 1 14:05 LEFT, 3RD PRD</div>

 

NHL: OTTAWA at NEW JERSEY

<div class="pre">NHL OTTAWA 2
NEW JERSEY 1
3RD PRD: OTT - SHEAN DONOVAN 2 (CHRIS KELLY, ANTOINE VERMETTE) 6:32</div>

 

NHL: OTTAWA at NEW JERSEY

<div class="pre">NHL OTTAWA 2
NEW JERSEY 1 8:08 LEFT, 3RD PRD</div>

 

NHL: OTTAWA at NEW JERSEY

<div class="pre">NHL OTTAWA 3
NEW JERSEY 1
3RD PRD: OTT - (PP) MIKE FISHER 3 (CHRISTOPH SCHUBERT, PATRICK EAVES)
13:34</div>

 

NHL: OTTAWA at NEW JERSEY

<div class="pre">NHL OTTAWA 3
NEW JERSEY 1 1:36 LEFT, 3RD PRD</div>

 

NHL: OTTAWA at NEW JERSEY

<div class="pre">NHL OTTAWA 4
NEW JERSEY 1
3RD PRD: OTT - (SH) (EN) DANIEL ALFREDSSON 7 (UNASSISTED) 19:58</div>

 

NHL: OTTAWA at NEW JERSEY

<div class="pre">NHL FINAL 1ST 2ND 3RD TOTAL
--- --- --- -----
OTTAWA 0 1 3 4
NEW JERSEY 0 1 0 1 FINAL

GOAL SCORING:

1ST PRD: NONE
2ND PRD: OTT - ANDREJ MESZAROS 2 (JASON SPEZZA, DANY HEATLEY) 5:01
NJD - (PP) BRIAN GIONTA 3 (PATRIK ELIAS, PAUL MARTIN) 14:00
3RD PRD: OTT - SHEAN DONOVAN 2 (CHRIS KELLY, ANTOINE VERMETTE) 6:32
OTT - (PP) MIKE FISHER 3 (CHRISTOPH SCHUBERT, PATRICK EAVES)
13:34
OTT - (SH) DANIEL ALFREDSSON 7 (UNASSISTED) 19:58

POWER-PLAY CONVERSIONS: OTT - 1 OF 3, NJD - 1 OF 3.

SHOTS ON GOAL: 1ST 2ND 3RD TOTAL
--- --- --- -----
OTT 5 10 11 26
NJD 18 5 9 32

GOALIES: OTT - MARTIN GERBER
NJD - MARTIN BRODEUR

OFFICIALS: REF - IAN WALSH, ROB MARTELL
LIN - JEAN MORIN, STEVE MILLER

ATT: 17,600</div>

 

NHL: OTTAWA at NEW JERSEY

<div class="pre">------------------------------------
Ottawa 0 1 3 --4
New Jersey 0 1 0 --1
------------------------------------

FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: None.

SECOND PERIOD -- Scoring: 1, Ottawa, Andrej Meszaros 2 (Jason Spezza,
Dany Heatley), 5:01. 2, New Jersey, Brian Gionta 3 (power play)
(Patrik Elias, Paul Martin), 14:00. Penalties: D Heatley, Ott (cross
checking), 0:54; T Zajac, Njd (hooking), 9:43; D Heatley, Ott
(slashing), 13:22; A Greene, Njd (roughing), 15:56.

THIRD PERIOD -- Scoring: 3, Ottawa, Shean Donovan 2 (Chris Kelly,
Antoine Vermette), 6:32. 4, Ottawa, Mike Fisher 3 (power play)
(Christoph Schubert, Patrick Eaves), 13:34. 5, Ottawa, Daniel
Alfredsson 7 (shorthanded) (Unassisted), 19:58. Penalties: V
Vishnevski, Njd (holding), 11:52; M Fisher, Ott (holding), 18:37.

Shots on goal:
---------------------------------------
Ottawa 5 10 11 --26
New Jersey 18 5 9 --32
---------------------------------------

Power-play Conversions: Ottawa - 1 of 3, New Jersey - 1 of 3. Goalies
: Ottawa, Martin Gerber (32 shots, 31 saves; record: 7-1-0). New
Jersey, Martin Brodeur (25 shots, 22 saves; record: 2-6-0). A: 17,600.
Referees: Ian Walsh, Rob Martell. Linesmen: Jean Morin, Steve Miller.</div>

 

NHL: OTTAWA at NEW JERSEY

<div class="pre">** CONFIRMED **
NHL
OTTAWA 4
NEW JERSEY 1</div>

 

By Joe Rizzo
PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer


NEWARK, New Jersey (Ticker) -- "The Rock" is open.

Shean Donovan snapped a third-period tie and Martin Gerber made31 saves to help the Ottawa Senators to a 4-1 win, spoiling theNew Jersey Devils' first game in the new Prudential Center.

After a quarter-century in the Meadowlands, the Devils openedtheir $380 million building in downtown Newark. The result wasthe same as it was in their last game in the old building - atriumph by the Senators.


Coming off a defeat in the Stanley Cup Finals to the AnaheimDucks, the Senators remained on fire, winning for the ninth timein 10 games to open the season. During its playoff run lastcampaign, Ottawa closed out its Eastern Conference semifinalseries with New Jersey by winning the last hockey game played atContinental Airlines Arena.


Donovan's shot from the bottom of the right faceoff circleeluded goaltender Martin Brodeur with 13:28 remaining, givingthe scorching Senators a 2-1 lead.


Gerber made it stand up with another solid effort. The Swissnetminder made 18 saves in the opening period to help Ottawawithstand the adrenaline rush New Jersey had in its first homegame of the season after opening with a franchise-record nine onthe road.


Mike Fisher added an insurance goal, his third of the season,during a power play with 6:26 left, putting a rebound into anopen left side of the net to make it 3-1. Captain DanielAlfredsson sealed the win in the final seconds with ashorthanded empty-netter.


Brian Gionta received credit for the Devils' first goal in theirnew home, but he had some help. With New Jersey on a powerplay, Gionta ripped a wrist shot from the right circle thatGerber got a pad on, but the rebound went off the right skate ofdefenseman Anton Volchenkov and into the net with six minutesremaining in the second period.


Senators blue-liner Andrej Meszaros secured his place in historyby scoring the first goal in the new arena, opening the scoring5:01 into the second period with a one-timer through trafficfrom above the slot.


While many finishing touches on the building will have to wait,the deadline for the home opener was met. Workers were boltingin seats up until an hour before faceoff, when the gates opened.About the only complaint by fans was that it took a long timeto enter the building.


Once inside, they saw state-of-the-art amenities. The reportedcrowd was a sellout of 17,600, although it appeared there weresome empty seats.


"It's like they took the best features from every buildingaround the league," NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said.

As expected, Brodeur received the loudest ovation during pregameintroductions. The reigning Vezina Trophy winner finished with23 saves as New Jersey lost its fourth straight game.

 

NHL: OTTAWA at NEW JERSEY

<div class="pre">------------------------------------
Ottawa 0 1 3 --4
New Jersey 0 1 0 --1
------------------------------------

FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: None.

SECOND PERIOD -- Scoring: 1, Ottawa, Andrej Meszaros 2 (Jason Spezza,
Dany Heatley), 5:01. 2, New Jersey, Brian Gionta 3 (power play)
(Patrik Elias, Paul Martin), 14:00. Penalties: D Heatley, Ott (cross
checking), 0:54; T Zajac, Njd (hooking), 9:43; D Heatley, Ott
(slashing), 13:22; A Greene, Njd (roughing), 15:56.

THIRD PERIOD -- Scoring: 3, Ottawa, Shean Donovan 2 (Chris Kelly,
Antoine Vermette), 6:40. 4, Ottawa, Mike Fisher 3 (power play)
(Christoph Schubert, Patrick Eaves), 13:34. 5, Ottawa, Daniel
Alfredsson 7 (shorthanded) (Unassisted), 19:58. Penalties: V
Vishnevski, Njd (holding), 11:52; M Fisher, Ott (holding), 18:37.

Shots on goal:
---------------------------------------
Ottawa 5 10 12 --27
New Jersey 18 5 9 --32
---------------------------------------

Power-play Conversions: Ottawa - 1 of 3, New Jersey - 1 of 3. Goalies
: Ottawa, Martin Gerber (32 shots, 31 saves; record: 7-1-0). New
Jersey, Martin Brodeur (26 shots, 23 saves; record: 2-6-0). A: 17,625.
Referees: Ian Walsh, Rob Martell. Linesmen: Jean Morin, Steve Miller.</div>

 

NHL: OTTAWA at NEW JERSEY

<div class="pre">-----------------------------------------
OTTAWA 0 1 3 --4
NEW JERSEY 0 1 0 --1
-----------------------------------------

FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: None.

SECOND PERIOD -- Scoring: 1, Ottawa, Andrej Meszaros 2 (Jason Spezza,
Dany Heatley), 5:01. 2, New Jersey, Brian Gionta 3 (power play)
(Patrik Elias, Paul Martin), 14:00. Penalties: D Heatley, Ott (cross
checking), 0:54; T Zajac, Njd (hooking), 9:43; D Heatley, Ott
(slashing), 13:22; A Greene, Njd (roughing), 15:56.

THIRD PERIOD -- Scoring: 3, Ottawa, Shean Donovan 2 (Chris Kelly,
Antoine Vermette), 6:40. 4, Ottawa, Mike Fisher 3 (power play)
(Christoph Schubert, Patrick Eaves), 13:34. 5, Ottawa, Daniel
Alfredsson 7 (shorthanded) (Unassisted), 19:58. Penalties: V
Vishnevski, Njd (holding), 11:52; M Fisher, Ott (holding), 18:37.

Shots on goal:
----------------------------------------
OTTAWA 5 10 12 --27
NEW JERSEY 18 5 9 --32
----------------------------------------

Power-play Conversions: OTT - 1 of 3, NJD - 1 of 3. Goalies : Ottawa,
Martin Gerber (32 shots, 31 saves; record: 7-1-0). New Jersey, Martin
Brodeur (26 shots, 23 saves; record: 2-6-0). A: 17,625. Referees: Ian
Walsh, Rob Martell. Linesmen: Jean Morin, Steve Miller.

INDIVIDUAL PLAYER STATISTICS

OTTAWA NEW JERSEY
G A +/- Shots G A +/- Shots
S Donovan 1 0 +1 2 R Pelley 0 0 even 2
D Alfredsson 1 0 +1 4 J Madden 0 0 -1 0
M Fisher 1 0 even 2 B Gionta 1 0 -2 4
A Meszaros 1 0 +2 2 D Zubrus 0 0 -1 4
D Heatley 0 1 +2 0 M Rupp 0 0 even 1
J Spezza 0 1 +1 0 S Brylin 0 0 -1 2
L Richardson 0 0 even 1 T Zajac 0 0 -1 3
A Vermette 0 1 +1 2 V Vishnevski 0 0 -1 0
C Kelly 0 1 +1 3 J Pandolfo 0 0 -1 1
A Volchenkov 0 0 +1 1 A Asham 0 0 even 0
C Neil 0 0 +1 1 D Clarkson 0 0 even 4
R Robitaille 0 0 even 2 P Elias 0 1 -1 4
C Phillips 0 0 +1 0 K Rachunek 0 0 even 0
P Eaves 0 1 even 3 J Oduya 0 0 -1 1
C Schubert 0 1 even 2 A Greene 0 0 even 1
W Redden 0 0 +2 2 P Martin 0 1 -1 1
J Corvo 0 0 even 0 S Brookbank 0 0 -2 1
N Foligno 0 0 even 0 Z Parise 0 0 -3 3
B McGrattan HEALTHY R Matvichuk HEALTHY
M Mottau HEALTHY</div>

 

NHL: OTTAWA at NEW JERSEY

<div class="pre">** CONFIRMED **
NHL
OTTAWA 4
NEW JERSEY 1</div>

 

By Joe Rizzo
PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer


NEWARK, New Jersey (Ticker) -- "The Rock" is open.

Shean Donovan snapped a third-period tie and Martin Gerber made31 saves to help the Ottawa Senators to a 4-1 win, spoiling theNew Jersey Devils' first game in the new Prudential Center.

After a quarter-century in the Meadowlands, the Devils openedtheir $380 million building in downtown Newark. The result wasthe same as it was in their last game in the old building - atriumph by the Senators.


Coming off a defeat in the Stanley Cup Finals to the AnaheimDucks, the Senators remained on fire, winning for the ninth timein 10 games to open the season. During its playoff run lastcampaign, Ottawa closed out its Eastern Conference semifinalseries with New Jersey by winning the last hockey game played atContinental Airlines Arena.


Donovan's shot from the bottom of the right faceoff circleeluded goaltender Martin Brodeur with 13:28 remaining, givingthe scorching Senators a 2-1 lead.


Gerber made it stand up with another solid effort. The Swissnetminder made 18 saves in the opening period to help Ottawawithstand the adrenaline rush New Jersey had in its first homegame of the season after opening with a franchise-record nine onthe road.


"The comfort level is much higher this year," said Gerber, whohas taken advantage of an injury to Ray Emery to secure the No.1 goaltending job. "You start from scratch, flip the page andtry to learn from it and get better in the summer. The way itworked out, I had to play a lot."


Mike Fisher added an insurance goal, his third of the season,during a power play with 6:26 left, putting a rebound into anopen left side of the net to make it 3-1. Captain DanielAlfredsson sealed the win in the final seconds with ashorthanded empty-netter.


Brian Gionta received credit for the Devils' first goal in theirnew home, but he had some help. With New Jersey on a powerplay, Gionta ripped a wrist shot from the right circle thatGerber got a pad on, but the rebound went off the right skate ofdefenseman Anton Volchenkov and into the net with six minutesremaining in the second period.


"Gionta came down the wing and tried before to lay it on mypad," Gerber said. "I thought it was cleared."


Senators blue-liner Andrej Meszaros secured his place in historyby scoring the first goal in the new arena, opening the scoring5:01 into the second period with a one-timer through trafficfrom above the slot.


While many finishing touches on the building will have to wait,the deadline for the home opener was met. Workers were boltingin seats up until an hour before faceoff, when the gates opened.About the only complaint by fans was that it took a long timeto enter the building.


Once inside, they saw state-of-the-art amenities. The reportedcrowd was a sellout of 17,600, although it appeared there weresome empty seats.


"It's like they took the best features from every buildingaround the league," NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said.

"It's an unbelievable facility," New Jersey's John Madden said."The fans are going to enjoy it. ... What makes it home is thecar ride, sleeping in your own bed and doing the things you doevery day."


The Devils will not have to leave the area until November 12,when they visit the Pittsburgh Penguins. New Jersey plays fourof its next six games at home, with the road contests takingplace in New York against the Rangers and Islanders.

After returning from the Steel City, the Devils play two morehome games before a three-game road trip.


"The fans were into it, but it's going to take a while to havethe fans get used to coming here," said New Jersey's PatrikElias, whose scoring struggles have been made the prime exampleof the team's lack of offense.


"One thing you can't teach is, teach guys how to score goals,"Devils coach Brent Sutter said. "The way we play allows us tocreate offensive opportunities. I'm tired of excuses being madefor everybody. We need to get more from some guys."

As expected, Brodeur received the loudest ovation during pregameintroductions. The reigning Vezina Trophy winner finished with23 saves as New Jersey lost its fourth straight game.

"We came out strong and probably deserved a better outcome than0-0 after the first period," Brodeur said of the Devils' slowstart. "It's concerning for you when you have three wins in 10games. Right now, it's definitely a tough time."

 

NHL: OTTAWA at NEW JERSEY

<div class="pre">------------------------------------
Ottawa 0 1 3 --4
New Jersey 0 1 0 --1
------------------------------------

FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: None.

SECOND PERIOD -- Scoring: 1, Ottawa, Chris Neil 1 (Andrej Meszaros,
Jason Spezza), 5:01. 2, New Jersey, Brian Gionta 3 (power play)
(Patrik Elias, Paul Martin), 14:00. Penalties: D Heatley, Ott (cross
checking), 0:54; T Zajac, Njd (hooking), 9:43; D Heatley, Ott
(slashing), 13:22; A Greene, Njd (roughing), 15:56.

THIRD PERIOD -- Scoring: 3, Ottawa, Shean Donovan 2 (Chris Kelly,
Antoine Vermette), 6:40. 4, Ottawa, Mike Fisher 3 (power play)
(Christoph Schubert, Patrick Eaves), 13:34. 5, Ottawa, Daniel
Alfredsson 7 (shorthanded) (Unassisted), 19:58. Penalties: V
Vishnevski, Njd (holding), 11:52; M Fisher, Ott (holding), 18:37.

Shots on goal:
---------------------------------------
Ottawa 5 10 12 --27
New Jersey 18 5 9 --32
---------------------------------------

Power-play Conversions: Ottawa - 1 of 3, New Jersey - 1 of 3. Goalies
: Ottawa, Martin Gerber (32 shots, 31 saves; record: 7-1-0). New
Jersey, Martin Brodeur (26 shots, 23 saves; record: 2-6-0). A: 17,625.
Referees: Ian Walsh, Rob Martell. Linesmen: Jean Morin, Steve Miller.</div>

 

NHL: OTTAWA at NEW JERSEY

<div class="pre">-----------------------------------------
OTTAWA 0 1 3 --4
NEW JERSEY 0 1 0 --1
-----------------------------------------

FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: None.

SECOND PERIOD -- Scoring: 1, Ottawa, Chris Neil 1 (Andrej Meszaros,
Jason Spezza), 5:01. 2, New Jersey, Brian Gionta 3 (power play)
(Patrik Elias, Paul Martin), 14:00. Penalties: D Heatley, Ott (cross
checking), 0:54; T Zajac, Njd (hooking), 9:43; D Heatley, Ott
(slashing), 13:22; A Greene, Njd (roughing), 15:56.

THIRD PERIOD -- Scoring: 3, Ottawa, Shean Donovan 2 (Chris Kelly,
Antoine Vermette), 6:40. 4, Ottawa, Mike Fisher 3 (power play)
(Christoph Schubert, Patrick Eaves), 13:34. 5, Ottawa, Daniel
Alfredsson 7 (shorthanded) (Unassisted), 19:58. Penalties: V
Vishnevski, Njd (holding), 11:52; M Fisher, Ott (holding), 18:37.

Shots on goal:
----------------------------------------
OTTAWA 5 10 12 --27
NEW JERSEY 18 5 9 --32
----------------------------------------

Power-play Conversions: OTT - 1 of 3, NJD - 1 of 3. Goalies : Ottawa,
Martin Gerber (32 shots, 31 saves; record: 7-1-0). New Jersey, Martin
Brodeur (26 shots, 23 saves; record: 2-6-0). A: 17,625. Referees: Ian
Walsh, Rob Martell. Linesmen: Jean Morin, Steve Miller.

INDIVIDUAL PLAYER STATISTICS

OTTAWA NEW JERSEY
G A +/- Shots G A +/- Shots
S Donovan 1 0 +1 2 R Pelley 0 0 even 2
D Alfredsson 1 0 +1 4 J Madden 0 0 -1 0
M Fisher 1 0 even 2 B Gionta 1 0 -2 4
A Meszaros 0 1 +2 2 D Zubrus 0 0 -1 4
D Heatley 0 0 +2 0 M Rupp 0 0 even 1
J Spezza 0 1 +1 0 S Brylin 0 0 -1 2
L Richardson 0 0 even 1 T Zajac 0 0 -1 3
A Vermette 0 1 +1 2 V Vishnevski 0 0 -1 0
C Kelly 0 1 +1 3 J Pandolfo 0 0 -1 1
A Volchenkov 0 0 +1 1 A Asham 0 0 even 0
C Neil 1 0 +1 1 D Clarkson 0 0 even 4
R Robitaille 0 0 even 2 P Elias 0 1 -1 4
C Phillips 0 0 +1 0 K Rachunek 0 0 even 0
P Eaves 0 1 even 3 J Oduya 0 0 -1 1
C Schubert 0 1 even 2 A Greene 0 0 even 1
W Redden 0 0 +2 2 P Martin 0 1 -1 1
J Corvo 0 0 even 0 S Brookbank 0 0 -2 1
N Foligno 0 0 even 0 Z Parise 0 0 -3 3
B McGrattan HEALTHY R Matvichuk HEALTHY
M Mottau HEALTHY</div>