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Alfredsson, Foligno help Senators edge Capitals

Sep 21, 2007 - 1:51 AM By Bill Carroll PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

OTTAWA (Ticker) -- The Washington Capitals wanted to make a statement they will be a playoff contender in 2007-08. The defending Eastern Conference champion Ottawa Senators showed why they are annual Stanley Cup challengers.

Captain Daniel Alfredsson, Jason Spezza and Nick Foligno each had a goal and an assist as the Senators rallied from a deficit and held on for a 5-4 preseason victory over the Capitals on Thursday.

The Capitals hung tough with their opponent for the first 40 minutes but could not hold off the surging Senators in the final period. Dany Heatley gave Ottawa a 4-3 lead at 4:20 of the third with a power-play tally and Chris Kelly beat goaltender Olaf Kolzig high to the glove side with a snap shot from the slot off a feed from Foligno less than two minutes later for a two-goal bulge.

The goal proved crucial as Senators netminder Brian Elliott misplayed the puck behind his own net late in the third, allowing Thomas Fleischmann to gain possession and pass to Alex Ovechkin, who scored with 4:20 remaining to draw Washington within 5-4.

The Capitals opened the scoring less than 17 minutes into the game while on the power play. As Senators enforcer Brian McGrattan served an interference penalty, Washington defenseman Tom Poti wristed a shot from the right point into the midsection of goalie Martin Gerber.

Captain Chris Clark then tucked the puck under Gerber's pads after corralling the rebound for a 1-0 edge. Ottawa evened the contest just 44 seconds later as Alfredsson roofed a shot over Kolzig's left shoulder. The Swede was stationed at the bottom of the right faceoff circle, where he converted a pass from behind the net by Spezza.

Fleischmann restored Washington's lead with 32 seconds to go in the first and Poti netted a power-play tally at 7:34 of the second for a 3-1 advantage. But Spezza and Foligno tallied less than two minutes apart midway through the middle session to forge a tie.

Gerber allowed three goals on 18 shots in just over 32 minutes of action before giving way to Elliott, who finished with 13 saves for the Senators.

Kolzig went the distance for the Capitals, turning aside 25 shots.