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Senators-Flyers Preview

Nov 12, 2009 - 7:03 AM By KATE HEDLIN STATS Writer

Ottawa (8-5-2) at Philadelphia (9-4-1), 7:00 p.m. EDT

Ray Emery's career with the Ottawa Senators was memorable, but not always for the right reasons.

Now with Philadelphia, Emery faces his former team for the first time and the Flyers seek their fifth straight win on Thursday night when they host the Senators.

Philadelphia (9-4-1) signed Emery to a one-year deal in June, giving the goaltender another shot at the NHL after he played in Russia following an acrimonious split with Ottawa (8-5-2) at the end of the 2007-08 season.

Emery led the Senators on their run to the 2007 Stanley Cup finals, but frustrated teammates and management with his attitude and off-ice problems. He won 71 games and appeared in 30 playoff contests over five seasons with the Senators.

"He created a little bit of it himself, but it also snowballed and people seemed like they wanted to run him out of town towards the end there," said former teammate Jason Spezza, who remains a close friend of Emery. "Maybe he got a little bit more attention that he wouldn't have got if he was somewhere else."

Emery, who went through eight weeks of behavior counseling before signing with the KHL, seems to have put his problems behind him. He is 9-3-1 with a 2.27 goals-against average and has been in net for each the Flyers' last four wins, giving up just six goals.

He recorded 30 saves through overtime and three more in the shootout of a 2-1 victory over St. Louis on Saturday.

Emery admitted it will be a little easier having his first game against his former teammates come in Philadelphia. The Flyers don't visit Ottawa until Jan. 3.

"I had really good times there," Emery said of his time in the Canadian capital. "Made a lot of friends but that being said, that's done. ... It's another game, but it's important for the team and myself."

Emery will be looking to help the Flyers win five straight for the first time since Dec. 6-16.

His former team, meanwhile, is trying to get back on track. After losing three of four, the Senators won 4-3 in a shootout against Edmonton on Tuesday as Spezza scored the deciding goal.

The Senators trailed 2-1 at the end of the first period, then failed to protect a 3-2 lead in the third when Pascal Leclaire gave up a goal with 4:43 left.

"We made it exciting and we were pretty disciplined," said Leclaire, who stopped 31 shots through regulation and two more in the shootout. "There was the little breakdown by myself at the end but the guys came back and we were able to get the win, so it's a little easier to forget about."

Jonathan Cheechoo recorded his first goal of the season in the first period. Cheechoo, who was part of the deal that sent Dany Heatley to San Jose, scored 12 goals last season with the Sharks and has been a disappointment since leading the league with 56 in 2005-06.

He came in with two assists in 14 games.

"If we expect him to be a 50-goal scorer, that's not realistic," coach Cory Clouston told the Senators' official Web site. "But we do need him to contribute more offensively."

Cheechoo has four goals and three assists in six career games versus Philadelphia.

Ottawa won three of four against the Flyers last season, splitting two games at the Wachovia Center.