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Gagne, Flyers outslug Senators

Dec 24, 2008 - 4:21 AM PHILADELPHIA (Ticker) -- Simon Gagne scored to snap a tie with exactly 5 1/2 minutes remaining in the third period as the Philadelphia Flyers handed the Ottawa Senators their 10th consecutive loss on the road with a 6-4 triumph on Tuesday.

Jeff Carter recorded his league-leading 26th goal to snap a tie early in the second period for Philadelphia, which won its sixth straight home contest and improved to 15-2-4 in its last 21 games.

Defenseman Matt Carle and Joffrey Lupul also tallied and Andreas Nodl netted his first career NHL goal for the Flyers. Captain Mike Richards snapped a three-game streak without a point by adding an empty-net goal with nine seconds left to seal the win.

"We thought it was important to help ourselves and play some good hockey at home," Flyers coach John Stevens said. "I think, for the most part, we have done that. Consistency seems to be really coming along. Special teams remains pretty solid for us. This was the game that the lead slipped away, but to get the win was really important for us."

"Right now, the feeling in the locker room is that no matter if we're up of down, we get the feeling that we could win every game," Gagne said. "That is the type of feeling that you want in that locker room."

Scott Hartnell notched two assists and Antero Niittymaki finished with 17 saves to improve to 8-2-3 this season.

"We're playing with so much confidence right now and everyone is having a good time," Hartnell said. "Practices are fun and we're carrying that into games. We're finding ways to win instead of finding ways to lose right now.

"It starts from our goalie, out to our defense and to our forwards. We're all playing well and chipping in and that's what we need."

Dany Heatley scored twice and had an assist for Ottawa, which played the first of eight consecutive games on the road as the IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship takes center stage in Canada's capital city.

Nick Foligno and defenseman Chris Phillips also tallied and captain Daniel Alfredsson and Jason Spezza notched two assists apiece for the Senators, who fell to 2-5-1 in their last eight contests.

"We showed some desperation and some character in the third, but we just gave it right back to them," Ottawa coach Craig Hartsburg said. "We just gave them the game. We had a chance to get a point and we just gave them the game."

Ottawa, which has dropped 10 straight games away from Scotiabank Place, had not won on the road since toppling the Florida Panthers on October 30.

With the game tied at 4-4 with 5:30 remaining, Gagne wristed the puck from the left faceoff circle toward the crowded doorstep. The puck caromed off the skate of former Flyer captain - and current Senators blue-liner - Jason Smith while he was defending Mike Knuble for his 18th goal of the season.

"I saw Knuble in front of the net and I just tried to hit his blade," Gagne said. "I missed him and I think it hit one of their skates and it went in. It was just a simple play. I just tried to put it on the net and there was a lot of traffic in front. You never know what can happen when you (put) one on the net."

"I don't know it got into the net," Auld said. "They gave it to Gagne, so it must have hit someone in front. It never hit me, so I'm sure how it went in.'

Carter gave the Flyers a 3-2 lead exactly six minutes into the second period after collecting the puck in front of the net and lifting it under the crossbar for his 26th goal of the season. The tally puts Carter just three shy of his career mark of 29, set in 82 games last campaign.