NHL-Senators continue revival with rout of Carolina

RALEIGH, North Carolina, Dec 12 (Reuters) - Dany Heatley scored two goals and made an assist to help the Ottawa Senators to a 6-0 rout of the Carolina Hurricanes, and their third successive win, on Wednesday.

Martin Gerber made 31 saves after Ottawa starting goalie Ray Emery was forced to leave the game injured, just 5:24 into the first period after the Senators had already grabbed a 2-0 lead.

Gerber, who started for the Hurricanes during their Stanley Cup winning season of 2005-06, responded strongly as Carolina out shot Ottawa 32-26, including 17-6 in the third period.

Heatley, Mike Fisher and Jason Spezza scored goals to give the Senators a 3-0 first period lead before Shean Donovan, Heatley and Dean McAmmond beat Cam Ward in the third period to complete the rout.

"We could have scored two or three more goals in the second period," said Ottawa coach John Paddock. "It was a solid all-round effort and he (Gerber) was good when he was called upon."

Spezza added two assists, as the Senators continued their rebound after a seven-game losing streak, their longest losing slide in more than a decade.

Carolina coach Peter Laviolette wasn't impressed with his team's performance.

"We had breakdowns on each one (goal)," Laviolette said.

"You leave their top players alone in the slot, a guy like Heatley, it's in the net."

Ottawa leads the Eastern Conference with 41 points, four ahead of the Boston Bruins, their Northwest Division rivals.

*Goaltender Alex Auld won his third straight game as the Boston Bruins beat the Atlanta Thrashers 5-3, despite two goals from Mark Recchi in his first game with the Thrashers.

*The Buffalo Sabres scored three second period goals to beat the New York Islanders 5-3, their first victory in three games against the Islanders this season.

*Mike Green's overtime goal lifted the Washington Capitals to a 5-4 victory over the New York Rangers.

*The Columbus Blue Jackets beat the Colorado Avalanche 4-1 as goalie Fredrik Norrena had to make just 15 saves in the victory.

*Martin Havlat scored twice as the Chicago Blackhawks beat the Los Angeles Kings 6-3.

(Writing by Roger Lajoie in Toronto; Editing by Greg Stutchbury)