Marian Hossa managed Sunday to score without getting off a shot on an empty-net breakaway.
Hossa was awarded his second goal of the game with 43 seconds left in the third period after Atlanta’s Ilya Kovalchuk threw his stick, leading the Ottawa Senators to a 5-2 victory over the visiting Thrashers.
Hossa, who scored early in the third period, was awarded a power-play goal at the 19:17 mark when Kovalchuk flung his stick and knocked the puck off Hossa’s stick into the left corner with Atlanta goalie Pasi Nurminen on the bench for an extra attacker.
“When I was going on the empty net, I was going to go all the way because there was nobody close,” Hossa said. “I was going to shoot and all of a sudden I saw a stick interfering with the puck, and I knew right away it was an automatic goal.
“It was a weird play.”
Thrashers coach Bob Hartley acknowledged that the referees were correct in awarding the goal (under Rule 88.a).
“That’s the rule,” Hartley said. “[Kovalchuk] tried. It was worth what it was worth.”
Stars demote 2
The Dallas Stars assigned defenseman Trevor Daley and left wing Mathias Tjarnqvist to their AHL affiliate in Utah. Daley has a goal and four assists. Tjarnqvist has a goal and an assist.
RESULTS, SUNDAY’S SYNOPSIS
Detroit 0 at Blackhawks 3 Complete coverage, Page 11.
Atlanta 2 at Ottawa 5
Senators extended season-high unbeaten streak to 6 games (4-0-2). Atlanta’s 3-game winning streak ended. Thrashers are winless in their last 7 games against Ottawa (0-6-1).
Calgary 2 at Edmonton 1
Jarome Iginla had a goal and an assist for Flames. Goalie Miikka Kiprusoff, who made 20 saves, is 11-3-1 with NHL’s best goals-against avg. and save percentage. Flames 10-2-1-0 in last 13.
