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By SEAN FARRELL
For The Associated Press
OTTAWA (AP) -Daniel Alfredsson drove the Ottawa Senators’ fans wild in the final seconds of the first period, then went a little crazy himself at the end of the second.
Alfredsson opened the scoring for the Senators in their 3-2 loss to the Anaheim Ducks that dropped them into a 3-1 hole in the best-of-seven Stanley Cup finals. He scored his 12th goal of the playoffs with 0.3 seconds left in the opening period.
With the score tied at 2 after Ottawa’s Dany Heatley scored with 2:00 left in the second period, Alfredsson was carrying the puck out of his zone when he wound up for an apparent last-ditch shot on Anaheim’s net from his side of center ice.
The Ottawa captain changed his mind and drove a slap shot toward the right corner which struck Anaheim’s Scott Niedermayer as he stood in front of the blue line.
Alfredsson’s intent to hit the All-Star defenseman appeared deliberate and players from both teams jostled in front of Anaheim’s bench after time had expired, with Niedermayer trying to get at Alfredsson.
Roughing minors to Ottawa’s Mike Fisher and Anaheim’s Samuel Pahlsson were the only penalties resulting from the skirmish.
Ottawa coach Bryan Murray separated Alfredsson from Jason Spezza and Heatley to break up the Senators’ top line, which has been outplayed by Anaheim’s checking line of Pahlsson, Travis Moen and Rob Niedermayer.
Alfredsson salvaged a great first-period effort by Ottawa when he beat Jean-Sebastien Giguere at 19:59 on the Senators’ third power play.
Senators center Dean McAmmond was unable to play because of what team officials labeled a concussion resulting from an elbow by Ducks defenseman Chris Pronger, who was suspended for Game 4.
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