NHL Roundup : Bruins Draw Blank Again as Capitals Get a 3-0 Win

U.S. Olympian Steve Leach and Greg Adams scored first-period goals and Pete Peeters stopped 42 shots as the Washington Capitals handed the Boston Bruins their third shutout in five games, 3-0, Sunday night at Boston.

The victory boosted the Capitals into the Patrick Division lead with 78 points to 77 for Philadelphia.

Peeters, a former Bruin who leads the NHL in goals-against average, posted his second shutout of the season and 15th of his career.

Mike Gartner scored his 44th goal at 10:37 of the third period for Washington, 7-2 in its last nine road games.

Chicago 5, Philadelphia 4--Dirk Graham scored one minute into overtime at Chicago and the Blackhawks knocked the Flyers out of the Patrick Division lead.

The Blackhawks rallied from a 4-1 deficit to tie the score, 4-4, at 6:19 of the final period on a goal by Bob Murray. Denis Savard and Bob McGill scored 19 seconds apart in the second period to start the comeback.

Philadelphia broke a 1-1 tie on goals by Brian Propp, Derrick Smith and Ilkka Sinisalo. The Flyers’ Scott Mellanby scored 56 seconds into the game and McGill tied the score with a 60-footer at 6:48 of the opening period.

Detroit 5, N.Y. Islanders 1--Joe Murphy scored two goals and John Chabot had a goal and two assists as the Red Wings scored their fifth straight victory by beating the Islanders at Detroit.

The victory was the second in as many nights for Detroit over the Islanders. The Red Wings have a 7-0-1 record in their last eight games. New York lost its third straight game.

Pat Lafontaine scored his 41st goal for the Flyers.

Pittsburgh 5, Winnipeg 4--Dan Quinn scored two goals, including the clincher on a power play, while Rob Brown and Mario Lemieux had four points each as the Penguins downed the Jets at Winnipeg.

The Penguins have 67 points, tying them with the New Jersey Devils, one point behind the New York Rangers in the battle for the final Patrick Division playoff berth.

Quebec 4, Hartford 1--Marc Fortier had two goals and an assist and the Nordiques drew within a point of the Whalers for the Adeams Division’s final playoff spot with a victory at Hartford.

It was the sixth victory against the Whalers in eight games this season for Quebec, which has won all four games in Hartford. Each team has 10 games remaining. It was the second consecutive loss and third in four games for the struggling Whalers.

Buffalo 7, Vancouver 5--Rookie Ray Sheppard had three goals and an assist to lead the Sabres past the Canucks at Vancouver.

Sheppard, second in NHL rookie scoring behind Calgary’s Joe Nieuwendyk with 32 goals and 24 assists, got his second hat trick.

Toni Tanti had three goals for Vancouver.