Lehner steps in to lead Senators

[February 27, 2012]  OTTAWA (AP) -- Robin Lehner, making his first start since being recalled from the minor to replace the injured Craig Anderson, made 28 saves as the Ottawa Senators beat the New York Islanders 5-2 on Sunday.

Milan Michalek, Jason Spezza, Jim O'Brien, Chris Neil, and Kyle Turris scored for the Senators.

Lehner was making his first start since being recalled from Binghamton on an emergency basis after Anderson cut his hand last Thursday while preparing food at home.

John Tavares and P.A. Parenteau scored for the Islanders and Evgeni Nabokov made 19 saves.

Erik Karlsson's two assists gave him 65 points and the record for most points in a season by a Senators' defenseman. The old record of 63 was set by Norm Maciver in 1992-93.

The Senators led 2-1 heading into the third period when a turnover by Islanders defenseman Mike Mottau led directly to Ottawa's third goal.

Mottau tried to backhand a pass from behind his net up the middle, but it went first to Neil and then O'Brien, who took a wrist shot that caught the top of Nabokov's glove before going in.

After Parenteau pulled the Islanders to within a goal at 9:04, Neil tapped Nick Foligno's pass out of midair and in past Nabokov at 12:59 to restore the Senators' two-goal lead. Turris scored into an empty net to seal the victory.

The Senators converted both their power-play opportunities in the second period to take a 2-1 lead.

Karlsson fed Michalek in the slot and he then put a backhand past Nabokov at 12:21 to tie the game. Just over four minutes later, Spezza ripped a slapshot over Nabakov's shoulder and in from the top of the faceoff circle after Karlsson faked a shot then fed Spezza cross ice.

The Islanders had taken a 1-0 lead just 49 seconds into the game as Tavares beat Lehner finishing up a two-on-one.

NOTES: Before Sunday's game, the Senators made a trade acquiring goaltender Ben Bishop from the St. Louis Blues in exchange for their second-round pick in the 2013 NHL draft. Bishop had spent the entire season with the Peoria Rivermen of the American Hockey league and has a 24-24-0 record. ... Heading into Sunday the Islanders led the NHL with 1.038 blocked shots per game. ... Brian Rolston, Steve Staios and Josh Bailey were scratches for the Islanders. Zenon Konopka and Matt Carkner sat for the Senators.

[Associated Press]

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