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Madferret
3-20-07, 11:49 AM
Sens continue home-ice quest versus Blues
March 20. 07

(Sports Network) - The Ottawa Senators continue their push to secure a postseason berth tonight when they travel to St. Louis to take on the Blues at Scottrade Center.

With 92 points, the Senators are currently even with Pittsburgh for the fourth spot in the Eastern Conference standings. That spot is crucial, as the team that holds that position at regular season's end will have home-ice advantage in the first round of the playoffs.

Ottawa kicked off a four-game road trip against the Penguins on Sunday, but fell in a shootout, 4-3.

Antoine Vermette, Daniel Alfredsson and Wade Redden each had a goal for the Senators, who had a three-game winning streak stopped. Ray Emery finished the game with 16 saves.

Despite the setback, which dropped the Senators to 18-12-5 on the road this season, the club is working on finishing the regular season strong. Ottawa has recorded a point in its last eight games (4-0-4) and in 17 of its last 18 outings (12-1-5).

Ottawa will also travel to Florida and Tampa Bay on its current trek and is making its first appearance in St. Louis since a 2-2 tie in December of 2002. In their last meeting in February of 2004, the Senators posted a 3-1 home win over the Blues.

Ottawa, though, hasn't posted a win in St. Louis in exactly eight years, since March 20, 1999.

St. Louis halted a three-game losing streak on Saturday courtesy of a 3-2 overtime win against Edmonton. In the extra session, Eric Brewer grabbed a loose puck at the right side of the net and banged a backhander between the pads of Dwayne Roloson for the victory 2:04 into overtime.

Petr Cajanek and Jeff Woywitka each had a goal and Radek Dvorak had a pair of assists for the Blues, while Curtis Sanford finished the game with 22 saves. Cajanek's goal was his 13th of the season, a new career high.

Twelve points out of the final playoff spot in the West, the Blues are a long shot to make the postseason. St. Louis is 17-17-3 at home this season and begin a three-game road trip in Minnesota on Thursday.

Madferret
3-21-07, 12:20 AM
Vermette nets winner as Sens beat Blues
Associated Press

ST. LOUIS (AP) - Antoine Vermette scored a short-handed goal to lift the Ottawa Senators to a 4-2 victory over the St. Louis Blues on Tuesday.

The winning goal came moments after the Blues thought they had taken the lead.

Brad Boyes put the puck in with 16:46 left and moments before play was stopped when Senators goalie Martin Gerber took possession of the puck. Replays showed that the puck went about a foot past the goal-line before Gerber pulled it back with his stick and smothered it. The goal light wasn't turned on and the officials didn't look at replays until after play resumed.

According to Rule 78.6, once a game has restarted following a stoppage of play - in this case when Gerber held onto the puck - a replay can't award or disallow a goal.

The Blues lost another apparent goal with 2:18 left when officials said David Backes' shot was covered by players. Again, replays showed the puck went over the line and was pulled out by Gerber before the whistle blew.

Vermette's 19th of the season was the second short-handed goal of the game and it came just nine seconds after Mike Fisher was sent off for delay of game. Vermette took a pass deep in the Blues zone from Chris Kelly, and goalie Curtis Sanford failed to slide to his left fast enough to stop the shot.

Mike Fisher got the first short-handed score midway through the second period. Fisher settled the puck at mid-ice before fighting off Lee Stempniak as they entered the Blues zone. He slapped in his 19th goal to give the Senators a 2-1 lead.

Chris Neil tied it 1-1 with a his 15th goal 6:29 into the second and Chris Kelly added an empty-net goal to seal the win.

The Blues, who have failed to win during regulation in their past five games, opened the scoring on Barret Jackman's second goal of the season.

Boyes tied the score 2-2 with his 16th goal late in the second. Notes: Blues C Ryan Johnson played after sitting five games because of an upper body injury. .. With an assist on Boyes' goal, Doug Weight has 20 points in 19 games against Ottawa. .. This was the only meeting between the teams this season and the first since Feb. 10, 2004, in Ottawa. The clubs last faced off in St. Louis on Dec. 5, 2002.

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