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BOX SCORE
KANATA, Ontario (AP) -- Mark Messier sounded upbeat even after
the New York Rangers blew three leads and had their two-game
winning streak snapped.
Magnus Arvedson and Igor Kravchuk scored 33 seconds apart in the
third period, lifting the Ottawa Senators to a 6-5 victory Thursday
night over New York.
|  | | Ottawa's Jason York is held up by Eric Lacroix, but managed two assists against the Rangers on Thursday. |
"I thought it was a good game, overall," Messier said. "We
got short on defense and fatigue might have been a factor, but I
have no complaints. We were coming off two wins and there was no
letdown. If anything, we deserved to win or at least get a point
out of the game."
The goals gave Ottawa a two-goal lead with 4:24 left, but the
advantage was cut to 6-5 when Petr Nedved got one back for New York
with 2:56 remaining.
Marian Hossa's second goal of the game at 6:49 of the third
period tied it 4-4 after Jan Hlavac gave the Rangers the lead at
2:47.
Martin Havlat and Rob Zamuner also scored for Eastern
Conference-leading Ottawa, 8-1-3-0, which remained undefeated
(4-0-2) at home.
"We don't usually give up that many goals and neither do the
Rangers, but it made for an exciting game," said Zamuner, whose
second-period goal was the 100th of his career.
Theo Fleury, Adam Graves and Michal Grosek also scored for New
York, 5-7-0-0.
The Senators are 7-0-1 against the Rangers since Jan. 19, 1999
and last lost to the Rangers on Dec. 5, 1998.
"A lot of good things continue to happen for us," said the
39-year-old Messier, who considers rebuilding the Rangers to be a
season-long process. "You're never really happy when you lose, but
we're making steps."
Ottawa lost defenseman Chris Phillips to back spasms and
fourth-line center Mike Fisher to a left shoulder injury in the
first period.
New York lost defensemen Kim Johnsson (hand) and Rich Pilon
(foot) to injuries.
With rookies in both nets -- Johan Holmqvist for New York and
Jani Hurme for Ottawa -- the Senators held a 38-37 shots advantage.
Ottawa scored on its first shot against Holmqvist after a quick
transition play sent Havlat in alone 2:42 in.
The Rangers made it 1-1 just 39 seconds later when Fleury camped
in the crease and poked a rebound past Hurme for his 10th goal of
the season and fifth in three games.
Fleury had just 15 goals last season, his first with New York.
By the end of Thursday's game, he was playing alongside Messier on
the top line.
"It was a great game to play in," Fleury said. "If we keep
playing like that, we won't lose many."
Graves put New York ahead for the first time at 18:08,
redirecting Messier's pass from across the crease.
Ottawa turned up the intensity in the second period and Hossa
tapped in Sami Salo's point shot on a power play at 11:28 to even
it at 2. After Grosek turned two Ottawa turnovers into a goal at
15:10, Zamuner tied it again, 3-3 at 17:55.
Game notes
John MacLean, who has played only two games this season,
was a healthy scratch for New York. The Rangers rejected a contract
buyout offer proposed Wednesday by MacLean's agent. ... Hurme
started his eighth consecutive game for Ottawa. ... New York plays
at Montreal on Saturday while Ottawa ends a three-game homestand
against Columbus.
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ALSO SEE
NHL Scoreboard
NY Rangers Clubhouse
Ottawa Clubhouse
RECAPS
Ottawa 6
NY Rangers 5
Nashville 3
Philadelphia 1
St. Louis 2
Washington 0
Los Angeles 5
Atlanta 2
Boston 5
Chicago 4
Toronto 5
New Jersey 3
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