Gomez scores shootout winner as Devils down the Senators

NEW YORK (Reuters) – Scott Gomez scored the only goal of
the shootout as the New Jersey Devils solidified their hold on
a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference with a 3-2 win over
the Ottawa Senators in the NHL Tuesday in Ottawa.

Gomez tried to deke Ottawa goalie Ray Emery but Emery
stopped his shot on the third round of the shootout before
slipping back into the net.

Video replay determined the puck did go into the net along
with the Ottawa goalie, putting the Devils ahead 1-0 in the
shootout.

Devils coach Lou Lamoriello told reporters after the game
that he was just happy he decided to go with Gomez as his
club’s third shooter.

“Gomez has been scoring lately,” Lamoriello said. “We could
have gone with anyone, but he’s had a hot hand.”

New Jersey goalie Martin Brodeur then stopped Daniel
Alfredsson on the final shot of the shootout to seal the win
for the Devils.

It was the 436th win of Brodeur’s career, moving him to
within one of tying Jacques Plante for fourth place on the
all-time list for victories.

It was an important win for the Devils, who have 81 points,
leaving them in a three-way tie for sixth place in the East
with Tampa Bay and Montreal.

OPENED SCORING

The Devils opened the scoring on a goal by John Madden in
the first period and that goal held up until the third period,
when Dany Heatley’s power play goal at 3:41 tied the game for
the Senators.

Brian Gionta’s power play goal just 2:33 later tied the
score and the Devils held onto that lead until the final minute
when, with Emery on the bench for an extra attacker, Heatley
scored his second goal of the game and 42nd of the season, a
new career high for him.

That sent the game into overtime, with Brodeur and Emery
making key saves to set the stage for the shootout.

It was Gionta’s 40th goal of the season, but he felt
getting the win in a tough building was more important than any
personal milestones.

“It’s nice getting that out of the way, but the two points
is more important,” Gionta told reporters.

Ottawa out-shot New Jersey 39-37,

In Columbus, Rick Nash scored twice as the Blue Jackets
beat the San Jose Sharks 4-1.

Mark Hartigan and Manny Malhotra scored the other goals for
the Blue Jackets. Marc Denis made 28 saves.

Steve Bernier scored for the Sharks.

In Philadelphia, Alexander Steen scored the game-winning
goal at 2:02 of the third period as the Toronto Maple Leafs
beat the Flyers 3-2.

Mats Sundin and Alexei Ponikarovsky scored for the Maple
Leafs. Jean-Sebastien Aubin made 28 saves in his second
straight start for the Leafs.

Joni Pitkanen and R.J. Umberger scored for the Flyers.

In Montreal, Cristobal Huet got his sixth shutout as the
Canadiens beat the New York Islanders 2-0.

Christopher Higgins and Radek Bonk scored for the
Canadiens.

(Writing by Roger Lajoie in Toronto)