Third-period collapse helps Sens get by Flyers

by Bob Herpen
Phanatic Hockey Editor

On Saturday, Danny Briere was there to rescue the Flyers from another potentially wasted effort. Just over 24 hours later North of the Border, neither he nor the Orange and Black defense could do the job.

Filip Kuba notched the game-winner with just over one minute left in regulation, as Ottawa used a four-goal third-period burst to down Philadelphia, 6-4, in the back end of a home-and-home set from Scotiabank Place.

Daniel Alfredsson, Chris Neil, Erik Karlsson and Nick Foligno totaled a goal and assist each for the Senators, who have won five of six and bounced back from an overtime loss in Philly on Saturday afternoon.

Craig Anderson -- who played well yesterday save for the final shot of the contest -- stopped 33 shots for the victory.

Matt Read, Sean Couturier, Marc-Andre Bourdon and Andrej Meszaros scored for the Flyers, whose win streak was halted at two games.

Ilya Bryzgalov was tagged for five goals on 37 shots in defeat.

Ottawa climbed within 4-3 as a Colin Greening pass to the slot changed direction off Flyers defenseman Matt Carle's stick and crossed the goal line at 3:11 of the third, and Karlsson beat Bryzgalov through the pads on a 3-on-1 rush to tie the game at 6:19.

On the lead tally, Erik Condra won a battle behind the Philadelphia net and dished back to the left point, where Kuba's drive deflected off Scott Hartnell's stick and found its way into the back of the net with 1:11 remaining.

Foligno hit the empty net with 45 seconds left to provide the final margin.

It was a rare black mark on a defense which has been solid despite the absence of Chris Pronger. Philadelphia lost for just the second time this season in regulation when leading after two periods (19-2-1) and lost for just the second time all year when leading after one (15-1-1).

Alfredsson's wrister from the high slot gave the Sens a 1-0 lead just 54 seconds after the opening faceoff, but Meszaros ripped one home from the blue line at 2:32.

Ottawa took a 2-1 edge at 8:25 when a lengthy review determined that Neil's poke through massive traffic inside the Philly crease managed to cross the goal line before caroming off Bryzgalov's arm and back into play.

Bourdon's floater from the right point with 4:28 remaining sailed by a Jakub Voracek screen and pulled the Flyers even, and Couturier ripped a wrister past Anderson from the right circle 28 seconds later for a 3-2 game.

Bryzgalov stoned Zack Smith on a short-handed break in the final 90 seconds and it remained a one-goal edge for the visitors after one period.

Though failing on a brief 5-on-3 power play late in the second period, the Flyers went up 4-2 on the following one-man edge as James van Riemsdyk fired from the point and Read slammed in the rebound with 5:52 remaining.

Notes: Ottawa has won 11 of its last 13 home games against Philadelphia since February of 2006...Alfredsson picked up his ninth multi-point effort this season...Meszaros played in his 500th career game...Couturier hadn't scored since November 5, a span of 22 games...Karlsson finished with a game- best plus-five, while Carle wound up with a game-worst minus-4...Read tied Edmonton's Ryan Nugent-Hopkins for the rookie goal lead (13) on his second- period score.