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Senators record historic first in opening day win

Posted on: Thursday, 6 October 2005, 00:12 CDT

By Roger Lajoie

TORONTO (Reuters) - Daniel Alfredsson scored twice in regulation and again in the shootout for the Ottawa Senators in a 3-2 win over the Maple Leafs on Wednesday, while fans in Toronto greeted the return of the NHL with a thunderous ovation.

After nearly 16 months without a competitive game due to last season's lockout, the Maple Leafs and arch-rivals the Senators faced off in one of 15 games as the league finally returned to action with all 30 teams in action on opening night.

Any thoughts that fans would react negatively to the return of the game were quickly dispelled when the sell-out crowd at the Air Canada Center greeted their heroes with loud cheers when players were introduced before the game.

Things didn't turn out the way the home fans wanted, however, with the Senators edging the Maple Leafs in the first shootout in the league's history.

"It was a great start to the season," Alfredsson said. "Both teams worked hard for 65 minutes.

"We've been waiting a long time to come back and the atmosphere was great. Everybody's glad that hockey is back."

Bryan McCabe opened the scoring for the Maple Leafs just 2:58 into the game, and thanks to stellar goaltending from Toronto's Ed Belfour and Ottawa's Dominik Hasek, that goal held up until the third period.

Alfredsson got his first goal of the game at 14:12 of the third period to tie it, but Eric Lindros scored his first goal in a Leaf uniform with just 1:31 remaining in regulation to put Toronto in front.

Another goal by Alfredsson just 29 seconds later, at 18:58, again tied the score, setting the stage for a scoreless five minute overtime and then the first regular season shootout.

Alfredsson scored on the first shot of the shootout, with Toronto's Jason Allison, Ottawa's Martin Havlat and Lindros all missing on their attempts.

Dany Heatley then fired a shot past Belfour to give the Senators the win.

"I like the shootout, I think it's fun for everybody," Heatley said after scoring his game winner.

Toronto coach Pat Quinn, however, is among those who disagree.

"I'm not one of the ones that like the game being settled this way," Quinn said.

The Leafs lost their captain Mats Sundin early in the first period when an errant puck hit him in the eye.

He immediately went to the dressing room, was patched up and will be re-evaluated on Thursday.

In addition to the shootout, the NHL unveiled its new crackdown on obstruction calls as the referees called numerous penalties, with the Leafs going 1-for-10 on the powerplay and the Senators failing to score in five chances.

Elsewhere on opening night in the NHL, rookie Alexander Ovechkin scored two goals, including the game winner, as the Capitals beat the Columbus Blue Jackets 3-2 in Washington.

Dainius Zubrus scored the other goal on the power play for the Capitals and Olaf Kolzig made 35 saves.

Dan Fritsche scored two goals for the Blue Jackets and Pascal Leclaire faced 19 shots before 16,325 fans, a crowd that pleased caps owner Ted Leonsis.

"That's really, really good for us," Leonsis said.

"That may have been the second best opening day. So there's pent up demand for hockey."

In Sunrise, Roberto Luongo made 34 saves as the Florida Panthers blanked the Atlanta Thrashers 2-0.

In Boston, Michael Ryder scored the game winning goal as the Montreal Canadiens beat the Bruins 2-1.

In East Rutherford, Sergei Brylin and Brian Gionta both scored twice as the New Jersey Devils beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 5-1.

Sidney Crosby had an assist in his first NHL game for the Penguins.

In St Paul, Marc Chouinard scored three goals as the Minnesota Wild beat the Calgary Flames 6-3.

In Nashville, Scott Hartnell broke a tie in the third period as the Predators beat the San Jose Sharks 3-2.

In Chicago, Joffrey Lupol had two goals as the Anaheim Mighty Ducks beat the Chicago Blackhawks 5-3.

In Philadelphia, Jaromir Jagr scored two power play goals in the third period as the New York Rangers beat the Flyers 5-3.

In Buffalo, Daniel Briere and Maxim Afinogenov both scored twice as the Sabres beat the New York Islanders 6-4.

In Tampa, Vaclav Prospal had one goal and two assists as the defending Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning beat the Carolina Hurricanes 5-2.

In Detroit, Tomas Holstrom had two assists as the Red Wings beat the St Louis Blues 5-1.

In Dallas, Sergi Zubov had two goals as the Stars beat the Los Angeles Kings 5-4.

Source: REUTERS

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