Senators rebound to defeat Pens, 3-1

Swedish native Daniel Alfredsson assisted on two Dany Heatley goals.

STOCKHOLM, Sweden (AP) — This was hardly a routine win for Daniel Alfredsson.

Playing an NHL regular season game in his native Sweden and skating off with his Ottawa Senators teammates after a satisfying victory could be a once-in-a-lifetime event.

“This is an experience that I’ll always remember and which I’m going to rank among the highlights in my career,” Alfredsson said after helping the Senators to a 3-1 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins Sunday.

The 35-year-old Alfredsson, who says he will not return to the Swedish Elite League when he ends his NHL career, set up Dany Heatley’s two power-play goals.

Heatley, who also had a goal in Ottawa’s 4-3 overtime loss to Pittsburgh Saturday, helped the Senators take three of four points during the season-opening European series.

“The way we played I think is encouraging,” Alfredsson said. “Heater stepped up with two big goals today and showed the way.

“We kept them in check throughout the game. They had some chances but [goalie] Alex [Auld] played very well. So we have to be really happy with this.”

Alex Goligoski spoiled Auld’s shutout bid with a power-play goal just two seconds before the final buzzer in front of another sold-out crowd of 13,699 at Globe Arena.

Penguins captain Sidney Crosby set up Goligoski’s goal.

Heatley gave Ottawa a 1-0 lead with a power-play goal at 13:07 in the second period. Alfredsson started the play with a pass from the left circle to Spezza just beside the goal. Heatley, left unchecked on the other side, took a pass from Spezza and put the puck between goalie Marc-Andre Fleury’s legs.

Heatley scored again at 12:17 of the third, when Pittsburgh was short-handed again, one-timing a slap shot past Fleury from close range. Alfredsson set up the goal with a nice pass.

Antoine Vermette made it 3-0 with 4:10 left of the game, skating in alone and beating Fleury with a low shot.

Both goalies went the distance. Auld had 30 saves, Fleury stopped 24 shots.

In the first period, both teams played well defensively. Pittsburgh’s power play continued to fizzle, failing twice. In Saturday’s opener, the Penguins squandered five straight man-advantage chances in the first period.

“Specialty teams will be very important in today’s NHL and we’ve done a really good job on our penalty killing,” Alfredsson said. “Our power play stepped up.”