Senators 8, Lightning 4

TAMPA, Fla. - Daniel Alfredsson had three goals and four assists, leading the struggling Ottawa Senators past the Tampa Bay Lightning 8-4 on Thursday night.

Alfredsson and Jason Spezza, who had two goals and two assists, scored 29 seconds apart during Ottawa's three-goal first period. The Senators' captain added a short-handed goal and recorded his 500th career assist in the second as the Senators took a 5-0 lead.

Senators defenseman Andrej Meszaros (14) congratulates Daniel Alfredsson after Alfredsson scored against the Tampa Bay Lightning during the first period on Thursday, Jan. 24, 2008, in Tampa, Fla.  Alfredsson racked up three goals and four assists to help Ottawa defeat Tampa Bay 8-4.  (AP Photo/Steve Nesius)

Tampa Bay's John Tortorella coached his 507th game, breaking a tie with Herb Brooks for most games coached by an American-born NHL coach.

Alfredsson's seven points set a new a career high, surpassing the six points he recorded Nov. 2, 2005, at Buffalo. The outburst was also a team record and allowed the Senators captain to move into the National Hockey League scoring lead, rocketing past Vincent Lecavalier of the Lightning, who was held off the scoresheet Thursday night.

Antoine Vermette, Randy Robitaille and Dean McAmmond also scored for the Eastern Conference-leading Senators, who had lost three in a row and five of six.

Tampa Bay defenceman Dan Boyle scored twice in his return to the lineup after missing the previous 36 games following left wrist surgery. Nick Tarnasky and Craig MacDonald had the Lightning's other goals.

The Lightning, last in the Eastern Conference, had a three-game winning streak snapped.

Alfredsson scored from the top of the left circle at 13:43 of the first. Spezza made it 2-0 from the high slot at 14:12.

Alfredsson scored a power-play goal with 1:19 left in the first and added his sixth short-handed goal of the season on a 2-on-1 to put Ottawa up 4-0 at 4:38 of the second.

Alfredsson got his 500th career assist on Vermette's goal later in the second at 9:36. Boyle cut the Tampa Bay deficit to 5-1 with 6:09 left in the period.

Both teams scored twice in the opening 5:07 of the third. Robitaille and McAmmond had the Ottawa goals, while Tarnasky and MacDonald scored for Tampa Bay.

Boyle scored his second of the game at 15:27 of the third. Spezza got the goal back with 3:27 remaining.

Notes: Alfredsson has scored 30 or more goals in four different seasons ... Dallas co-general manager Brett Hull scouted his second Lightning home game in three days. Chicago and Phoenix also had a scout at the game ... Ottawa RW Brian McGrattan (right shoulder) missed his second straight, and is listed as day to day ... Senators D Wade Redden recorded his 300th career assist on Vermette's goal.