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Alfredsson, Senators top Sabres again

Feb 12, 2009 - 6:22 AM BUFFALO, New York (Ticker) -- A pair of meetings with the Buffalo Sabres has done a world of good for the Ottawa Senators.

Captain Daniel Alfredsson scored a power-play goal and set up another and rookie Brian Elliott made 31 saves as the Senators completed a sweep of their home-and-home series with the Sabres by posting a 3-1 victory on Wednesday.

Jason Spezza also netted a man-advantage goal and Shean Donovan tallied in his return to the lineup for the Senators, who recorded a 3-2 shootout win over the Sabres at home on Saturday.

Ales Kotalik scored the lone goal for the Sabres, who lost their first game without All-Star Thomas Vanek. The Austrian suffered a fractured jaw during Saturday's loss and is expected to miss at least three weeks.

Without its star left wing, Buffalo converted just 1-of-12 power-play opportunities as it was unable to solve Elliott except for during a 5-on-3 chance early in the third period. Vanek leads the league with 15 power-play goals.

"Our PK is something we count on all year," Donovan said. "It's probably been the most consistent part of our game all season, and tonight, they showed it. They worked hard. You can tell the (penalty) killers, they're the dead ones in here right now."

Elliott has won back-to-back starts for the first time since his first two NHL appearances on January 13-14. Meanwhile, Ottawa improved to 2-1-1 under new coach Cory Clouston.

"The guys were just clearing everything out in front and allowing me to see the puck from the point and keeping everything to the outside," Elliott said. "I really didn't (need) to make that many saves on the power play. That's how good we were."

The Senators took advantage of their first opportunity with the man advantage as a pass across the crease by defenseman Brendan Bell deflected off Spezza's skate and past goaltender Ryan Miller at 5:51 of the first period. Following a video review, Spezza was awarded his 20th goal of the season.

"We just didn't come out prepared to play," Buffalo's Tim Connolly said. "We have to do a better job of coming out and trying to get the lead. I think whenever you get down by a goal early, it's a lot more difficult to play."

In his first game back after missing eight with a knee injury, Donovan beat Miller from the right faceoff circle at 9:44 of the middle session for his first goal since December 3, giving Ottawa a 2-0 lead.

With Kotalik in the penalty box for holding, Alfredsson slapped a shot from the top of the right circle that squeezed past Miller with 7:45 remaining in the period for a three-goal bulge.

"It's just one of those nights. It's just frustrating," Miller said. "Everything has been going our way. We have to bounce back, we have the best team in the league (in San Jose) coming in here (on Friday), so we're really going to have to have a short memory and go back to work here."

The 12 power-play chances for Buffalo was a season high in the NHL this season and the most for a Sabres team since a matchup with Toronto on January 5, 1996.

"I credited the guys killing penalties," Clouston said. "Obviously, your goaltender has to be your best penalty-killer, and tonight, he was."