KANATA, Ontario – The Ottawa Senators scored three goals in the first period en route to a 6-3 victory over the Coyotes Friday night at Scotiabank Place.
Jason Spezza had two goals and two assists, and Jarkko Ruutu also scored twice for Ottawa, which was playing its first game in six days. The rest seemingly served the Senators well as they pounced on numerous early miscues by the Coyotes, scored four goals within the first 28 minutes and never looked back.
Coyotes goalie Ilya Bryzgalov gave up all six goals, and Head Coach Wayne Gretzky said Bryzgalov would play again Saturday night at Montreal.
"We're going up against some good teams," Gretzky said. "We need some of our guys to answer the bell a little bit. I know Bryzgalov's better than he played tonight, and he didn't step up. We just need some more people to step up."
Coyotes captain Shane Doan and Enver Lisin, playing his first game of the season, both scored goals from the left circle in the third period. Mikkel Boedker added a goal late in the game on a nice feed from Olli Jokinen.
But it was too little, too late.
"We can't allow them to have three goals (in the first period) and expect to win in this barn," Doan said.
Trailing 4-0, Doan stole a pass by Senators defenseman Alexandre Picard and buried a slap shot past Ottawa goalie Martin Gerber at 2:02 of the third period.
Ruutu, however, quickly regained the momentum for Ottawa 2:07 later by scoring his second goal of the night on a two-on-one break.
Lisin’s goal came exactly nine minutes into the third period off a slick back-handed feed from Jokinen from behind the net. The point upped Jokinen’s point streak to four games.
The Senators were not whistled for a penalty in the game.
The Coyotes played minus left wing Daniel Carcillo, who was suspended by the league for two games for grabbing Chicago’s Ben Eager while Carcillo was on the bench Wednesday night.
Coyotes defenseman Derek Morris appeared unfazed by the hand injury he suffered Wednesday night. He had two shots on goal, both blasts from the point.
Senators captain Daniel Alfredsson, who had arthroscopic knee surgery last week, returned to the lineup and had two assists.
Phoenix next plays Saturday at Montreal. The puck drops at 4 p.m. Arizona time.
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