Senators shrug off pay woes to defeat Rangers

Reuters, New York

Marian Hossa scored a pair of goals and Patrick Lalime turned aside 17 shots as the Ottawa Senators -- still playing without their paycheques -- downed the New York Rangers 5-2 in NHL action on Monday.

Ottawa is now unbeaten in four games and hasn't lost since owner Rod Bryden informed the players on New Year's Day that their cheques would be late.

The Senators scored three unanswered goals in the third beat to beat the Rangers, ironically the team with the largest payroll in the NHL.

Despite Ottawa's off-ice woes, the Senators opened up a seven- point lead atop the Eastern Conference's overall standings and took the overall NHL points lead with the win.

The Rangers sit 13th in the Eastern Conference standings.

Todd White, Magnus Arvedson and Petr Schastlivy scored the other goals for the Senators, who have lost just five times in 20 road games (11-5-4-0) this season.

Bobby Holik had a goal and as assist for the Rangers, while Mark Messier added his 13th of the season for New York. Eric Lindros had two assists.

Mike Dunham made 31 saves as the Rangers were out-shot 36-19, including 31-13 over the final two periods.

Only Buffalo and Florida have lost more games than the Rangers (21) this season.

In Columbus, Andreas Johansson and David Legwand both scored two goals to lead the Nashville Predators past the Blue Jackets 5-1.

Scott Hartnell had the other Nashville goal while Tomas Vokoun set a franchise-record by playing in his 16th straight game while making 21 saves.

Nashville is 4-1-1 in its last six road games.

Mike Sillinger had the lone goal for Columbus, which saw its three-game unbeaten streak snapped.

In Minneapolis, Felix Potvin made 26 saves to help the Los Angeles Kings edge the Minnesota Wild 3-2, ending the Kings' four-game losing streak.

A shorthanded goal by Brad Chartrand in the second period turned out to be the game-winner.

Joe Corvo and Steve Kelly both scored their first goals of the season for the Kings, who were out-shot 28-14.

Sergei Zholtok and Pascal Dupuis replied for the Wild, which has lost two straight games.

In San Jose, Dan McGillis scored two third period goals to give the San Jose Sharks a 5-5 tie with the Edmonton Oilers.

San Jose trailed 5-2 at one point but rallied to end its two- game losing streak while the Oilers played an overtime game for the eighth time in 11 games.

Todd Harvey, Scott Hannan and Scott Thornton scored the other goals for the Sharks.

Ryan Smyth had two goals and one assist for the Oilers while Todd Marchant and Mike York both had a goal and two assists. Shawn Horcoff scored the other Edmonton goal.