Alex Kovalev broke a lengthy scoring slump with a career-best four
goals and an assist to lift the Ottawa Senators to a 7-4 victory
over the Philadelphia Flyers in the NHL on Sunday.
The Senators jumped out to a 4-1 lead before squandering it,
then ran away with three third-period goals.
Kovalev scored his first goals in 11 games, dating to a hat
trick on Dec. 12 against Carolina. It was his 12th NHL hat trick.
His first goal came against Flyers starter Michael Leighton,
who was replaced by Brian Boucher after giving up two goals on five
shots. Ottawa's Pascal Leclaire allowed three goals on 10 shots
before being relieved by Brian Elliott.
Chris Kelly had his first career two-goal game for the
Senators, who won for the fourth time in five games. Jarkko Ruutu
added a goal and an assist, and Ryan Shannon and Anton Volchenkov
had three assists each.
Arron Asham had a goal and assist, and Ian Laperriere,
Darroll Powe and Mike Richards scored on the power play for the
Flyers.
