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Senators beat Flyers to keep it interesting atop Eastern Conference

Apr 6, 2011 - 4:38 AM Ottawa, ON (Sports Network) - Jason Spezza recorded a goal and three assists as the Ottawa Senators postponed the Flyers' division-clinching hopes with a 5-2 decision over Philadelphia at Scotiabank Place.

"We played great 5-on-5, we got some trouble early that gave them momentum but we started off pretty good," said Spezza. "Those special-teams goals are always nice and give you some confidence. It was just a good all-around game."

Milan Michalek, Bobby Butler and Nick Foligno also hit the net for the Senators, who have won two of three. Craig Anderson won with 27 saves.

Mike Richards notched both goals for the Flyers, who could have taken the Atlantic with a win and a Penguins loss. However, Pittsburgh's 4-2 win over New Jersey made it a one-point race for the top spot with two games remaining.

Sergei Bobrovsky allowed four goals on 35 shots as Philly also dropped out of first in the Eastern Conference after Washington's 3-2 shootout win at Toronto. The Capitals now have 105 points and the Flyers are two points behind.

Butler notched the game-winning goal on a breakaway with 14 seconds left in the second period, just over a minute after Ryan Shannon's power-play tally, and the home team led 3-2 after two.

Spezza then cranked home Ottawa's third power-play goal of the contest, at 8:02 of the third period and the Senators put a stranglehold on the game.

Bobrovsky was pulled for an extra skater with over 90 seconds remaining, then Michalek scored into the empty net shortly thereafter.

"We lost our intensity and lost the focus for these games (against lesser opponents)," said Richards, the Flyers captain. "This effort was led by me. I've gotta change and it's gonna change starting in the playoffs."

Richards found a loose puck in the slot and slammed it home on a power play 3:40 into the contest, but Foligno potted a rebound on an Ottawa advantage at 15:37.

Both clubs tallied on the power play in the second period as Richards ripped a one-timer home from the bottom of the left circle off a dish from Nikolay Zherdev with 4:02 left, but the Sens equalized on a Shannon point shot with 1:18 remaining.

Game Notes

The season series ended up tied at 2-2-0, with both clubs winning twice on home ice...Richards snapped a six-game goal drought and posted his first multi-goal effort since January 20 in a 6-2 win over Ottawa...The Flyers have not won in Canada's capital since November 24, 2007...Philadelphia ends its regular-season slate at Buffalo on Friday and by hosting the Islanders on Saturday.