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Senators tie up series with Leafs

Chris Phillips of the Senators celebrates with teammate Peter Bondra after scoring the fourth goal against the Toronto Maple Leafs during third period of their NHL Eastern Conference quarterfinal in Ottawa, Wednesday. The series is tied at two game apiece. PHOTO: AP

Daniel Alfredsson scored in the first period to end Ottawa's two-game drought against Ed Belfour, and Marian Hossa got the go-ahead goal that helped the Senators beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-1 Wednesday night.

"There was no way he was going to shut us out for three straight games," Alfredsson said.

The Senators tied the best-of-seven first-round playoff series at 2-all. Game 5 will be played Friday night in Toronto.

Ottawa ended Belfour's shutout streak at 157 minutes, 45 seconds when Alfredsson tied the game with 35.6 seconds remaining in the first period.

Hossa scored his third goal of the series to give the Senators the lead in the second period. Todd White and Chris Phillips added third-period goals for Ottawa, which got 24 saves from Patrick Lalime.

Gary Roberts had Toronto's goal in the first period.

Lightning 3, Islanders 0

In Uniondale, New York, Nikolai Khabibulin made 33 saves for his second straight shutout at Nassau Coliseum, and Martin St. Louis had a short-handed goal and an assist in Tampa Bay's victory over the New York Islanders.

Ruslan Fedotenko and Fredrik Modin added goals, and Brad Richards had two assists for the Lightning, who lead the best-of-seven series 3-1, with each game ending 3-0. They can advance to the second round for the second straight year with a victory at home Friday night.

Khabibulin got his third shutout of the series.

Flyers 3, Devils 0

In East Rutherford, New Jersey, Robert Esche made 35 saves for his first career playoff shutout, giving Philadelphia a win over New Jersey and a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series.

Defenseman Kim Johnsson, off whose body Patrik Elias got the game-winning goal Monday night, gave the Flyers a 1-0 lead in the first period.

Alexei Zhamnov and Keith Primeau added third-period goals for the Flyers, who can end Stanley Cup champion New Jersey's hopes of winning a fourth championship since 1995 with a victory Saturday in Philadelphia.

Esche was outstanding in the first two periods.

Avalanche 3, Stars 2, 2OT

In Dallas, rookie Marek Svatos and Colorado are on the verge of advancing to the second round of the playoffs after defeating Dallas.

Svatos, playing in his fourth postseason game after playing just four in the regular season, scored 5:18 into double overtime, giving Colorado a 3-1 lead in the first-round series.

Milan Hejduk and Joe Sakic scored first-period goals for the Avalanche, who will host Game 5 on Saturday.
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