NHL: Ottawa 8, Tampa Bay 4

TAMPA, Fla., Jan. 24 (UPI) -- Daniel Alfredsson had a hat trick and a career-best seven points Thursday in leading Ottawa to an 8-4 whipping of Tampa Bay.

Jason Spezza added two goals and an assist for Ottawa, which had lost its previous three games. Six players had at least two points for the Senators and Martin Gerber made 21 saves.

Ottawa finished the first half of the NHL season with the best record in the Eastern Conference.

As part of his big night, Alfredsson reached 500 assists for his career. That milestone came when he assisted on a goal by Randy Robitaille 1:39 into the third period. Alfredsson leads the league with 67 points.

Tampa Bay's John Tortorella coached in his 507th career game, moving him past Herb Brooks for the most in NHL history by an American-born coach.

Johan Holmqvist, who shut out Ottawa last Saturday, was removed from the game after giving up three goals on 14 shots.