Jason Pominville about to crash into him, Niemi blocked

OTTAWA - The Ottawa Senators have a big week ahead and cant get caught up dwelling on one game — even if its against former captain Daniel Alfredsson. The Senators will face Alfredsson for the first time Wednesday since the 40-year-old chose to leave Ottawa and sign with the Detroit Red Wings as a free agent this past summer. Alfredssons decision came as a shock to many, and while fans might still be reeling, the players say theyve moved on, adding Wednesdays game in Detroit is more about two points on the road and beating a division rival than facing a former teammate. "Its more (weird) for him," said new captain Jason Spezza. "Were used to seeing one guy move on and play for a different team and play against teammates youve played with. It will be different because its Alfie, but I think it will be harder for him playing against Ottawa because its the only place hes ever played." Senators coach Paul MacLean has great memories from his own time in Detroit, where he served as an assistant coach to Mike Babcock. But as far as hes concerned, this is just one more game on the schedule. "Were just going there to play the Red Wings," said MacLean. "Thats all my focus is on is were playing the Red Wings. Thats a big enough task in my book. "They have lots of good players. Daniel is one of them so our focus is on the Red Wings and how they play as a team, not one guy." MacLean has reason to worry. Going into Mondays games, the Red Wings led the Atlantic Division, with Alfredsson putting up one goal and nine points through his first nine games. Meanwhile, the Senators were sixth. Senators tough guy Chris Neil says it will be a little strange to see Alfredsson in a different jersey, but says he wont get any special treatment. If the opportunity to finish a check on Alfredsson arises, he wont think twice. "At the end of the day hes just on another team," said Neil, who spent 11 seasons with Alfredsson. "Its not like hes not our friend, but youve got to go out and play hard against him. For us we want to get the two points and thats the bottom line. Its no different than playing other friends on other teams." While the Senators seem to have adjusted to life without Alfredsson, there is perhaps no one who misses him more than Erik Karlsson. The Senators defenceman lived with Alfredsson and his family as a rookie and the two Swedes were extremely close. "Its been very different," Karlsson said. "Hes been here as long as Ive been here and longer than that as well. Its just something that you were used to and someone you were used to having around all the time. Its different, but its going well. Im still a happy guy and even though I miss him were still talking every once in a while so its all good." As for facing his former mentor, Karlsson doesnt anticipate it being as big a deal as many are making it out to be. "Its going to be different in a way, but I think once the game starts its not going to be on anyones mind its going to be like a regular game. Maybe if we see him before the game and after its going to be a little bit weird, but once the puck drops I think its going to be just like normal." Alfredsson had a great deal of influence on the franchise and the community and Neil understands the emotional impact the former captains departure has had, but he says everyone needs to move on. "The city of Ottawa is going to miss him and as teammates of his for so long we miss him too, but he turned the page. Weve got to turn the page too," he said. "You dont dwell on it, you just go out, focus on the task at hand and thats to beat the Detroit Red Wings." Wesley Matthews Bucks Jersey . 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Liriano struck out a season-high 11 in seven innings to win consecutive starts for the first time this season and Pittsburgh beat the San Francisco Giants 3-1 on Tuesday night. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Jersey . They wanna make t-shirts about it and sell them at our next hockey game..DB: Wow, they want to make t-shirts? That sounds pretty amazing.MS: Yeah, I was also on the Top 10, I was number 1 today, so that was pretty cool.ST. PAUL, Minn. -- The Minnesota Wild gained some momentum heading into a stretch in which they will spend little time at home. Josh Harding made a season-high 37 saves in another strong home outing, and the Wild beat the San Jose Sharks 3-1 on Sunday night despite recording a season-low 13 shots. Zach Parise scored twice -- once into an empty net -- and Mikko Koivu added a goal for the Wild, who have won three of four. "It was a hard game, and thats a tough team to play against," Parise said. "We were able to hang on and win, so thats important for us." Patrick Marleau scored with 1:41 left for San Jose, which went 1-3 on a four-game trip. The Sharks, who have lost three in a row in regulation for the first time this season, are 0-5-1 in their last six games in Minnesota. Antti Niemi made 10 saves. The Wild plays seven of their next eight away from home. To maintain their standing within the tough Western Conference, they will need to play better than their 5-6-3 road record. "We dont want to go out and make everything look pretty," forward Matt Cooke said. "Were a team thats going to go out and play responsible, take care of our own end, and capitalize on our opportunities. "That should suit us well heading on the road." That was evident late against the Sharks when Minnesota focused on strong play in its own end against a team that was averaging an NHL-best 36 shots per game and scoring 3.34 goals. Minnesota held the Sharks to just six third-period shots, after allowing 21 in the second. "I feel like we got a lot of good practice in our defensive game tonight, and we were sharp," Wild coach Mike Yeo said. "They got the one at the end, but I thought we did a really good job in the third period. We were playing tight, we had good layers, and we were tough to come through." Parise and Koivu scored second-period goals to give Minnesota a 2-0 lead. Parise pushed the Wilds edge back to two goals when he scored at 19:54 of the third period. "Its always frustrating when you lose," San Jose centre Joe Pavelski said. "We did a few of the things we wanted to andd it didnt feel like we gave them much.dddddddddddd. It was competitive, but we didnt find a way." Harding, who improved to 13-1 at home, is 16-4-3 overall. He lowered his goals-against average to an NHL-best 1.50 and moved into a second-place tie with Niemi and Pittsburghs Marc-Andre Fleury for most wins. "Whenever you can keep a team like that at bay, youre going to be happy," Harding said. "I always say it, but when we have guys like our captain and the leaders on this team blocking shots like they were, putting their body in front of the puck, it makes everybody want to battle that much harder." The Wild blocked 18 shots, including three by Koivu and Cooke. Two days after Sharks coach Todd McLellan questioned his teams energy level following a 5-3 loss in Carolina, San Jose came out more aggressive. The Sharks got the puck deep in the offensive end and outshot Minnesota 11-5 in the first period. Despite Harding giving up a number of prime rebounds, the Sharks couldnt score. However, a rebound led to Parises first goal early in the second period. With Jason Pominville about to crash into him, Niemi blocked a slap shot from Marco Scandella, but the rebound was picked up by Parise in front. He quickly shifted the puck to his backhand and put a shot into the empty net. McLellan was adamant that the goal shouldnt have counted. "Ill be looking for an explanation," he said. "I dont know how the outcome of the game wouldve gone, who knows what happens if thats disallowed." Koivu made it 2-0 a little more than four minutes later beating Niemi with a wrist shot on the stick side. Niemi was pulled for an extra skater with 2:15 to play, and Marleau got the Sharks on the board by squeezing a rebound between Harding and the left post. NOTES: The teams will meet again Thursday at San Jose. ... Wild fourth-line centre Zenon Konopka returned after sitting as a healthy scratch the previous two games. ... San Jose RW Marty Havlat was scratched. No reason was given, but he limped off the ice after blocking a shot Friday in Carolina. ... Minnesota is 14-0-3 when leading after two periods. ' ' '