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Vrbata scores in shootout to lift Blackhawks

Mar 5, 2007 - 12:44 AM CHICAGO (Ticker) -- Two nights after coach Denis Savard called his team's performance "embarrassing," the Chicago Blackhawks exhibited some pride.

Radim Vrbata scored the deciding goal in the fourth round of the shootout as the Blackhawks rallied for a 4-3 victory over the Ottawa Senators.

Coming off Friday's 6-2 loss at Detroit in which Savard blasted his team, the Blackhawks were able to battle back from a two-goal third-period deficit against Ottawa.

"Our guys are proud players," Savard said. "I have said I like my guys. I have told them if I have to discipline them, I will. We have to take pride in what we are doing here. This is an 'Original Six' franchise and we have been struggling. I feel that at this time of year, if you don't show effort and pride, there is a problem."

Vrbata provided the winner in the shootout, lifting a backhander over goaltender Martin Gerber.

"I was worried about using my move because I used to play with Gerber in Carolina and he had seen it before," Vrbata said. "But in the end I just decided to go with it and it worked."

Dany Heatley had given the Senators the lead in the third round of the shootout by snapping a shot past Patrick Lalime. But Jeff Hamilton was able to keep the contest going for Chicago.

After Lalime denied Antoine Vermette, Vrbata ended things to help the Blackhawks stop a three-game losing streak.

Daniel Alfredsson scored a power-play goal and Vermette tallied at 12:04 of the second period, giving the Senators a 3-1 lead.

"We should not have let these two points get away, especially when we need them so badly," Vermette said. "We know how important it is to win games against teams out of the playoffs. It should have been two points for us but they played very hard in the thrid period."

Mikael Holmqvist scored his fourth goal of the season 3:54 into the third period to pull the Blackhawks within 3-2.

A turnover by Ottawa in its own zone led to Brent Seabrook's tying goal with 1:59 left in regulation. Seabrook fired a slap shot from above the right faceoff circle past Gerber for his fifth tally of the season.

Vrbata got the Blackhawks off to a good start, beating Gerber on a deflection at 6:24 of the opening period for his 10th goal.

Oleg Saprykin tallied at 11:14 of the first period to pull the Senators even. It was his 15th goal of the season and first in three games with Ottawa since being acquired from Phoenix at the trade deadline.

A former Senator, Lalime finished with 30 saves.

Ottawa has lost consecutive games following a three-game winning streak.

"They played hard and we didn't play at the top of our game," Senators coach Bryan Murray said. "Give them the credit, they worked hard to back in to the game."