NHL ROUNDUP : Ottawa’s Road Woes Continue

It appeared as though the Ottawa Senators might accomplish a first this season by winning a game on the road.

But the Quebec Nordiques shook off the effects of a four-day Christmas layoff in time to defeat the Senators, 4-2, Saturday night at the Quebec Coliseum.

It was the 18th consecutive loss on the road for the Senators, who, at 3-32-3, don’t fare much better at home.

But they did catch the Nordiques--especially goaltender Ron Hextall--napping in the first period.

With the Senators playing short-handed, Mark Freer put a shot into the far corner at 3:29. About 10 minutes later, Mike Peluso, who had 12 goals in 118 games before this season, unleashed a long, seemingly harmless wrist shot that handcuffed Hextall and gave the Senators a 2-0 lead.

But Scott Pearson, Mike Hough and Curtis Leschyshyn scored in the second period for Quebec, with Martin Rucinsky assisting on two goals and converting a pass by Gino Cavallini midway through the third period to put the game away.

“You have to watch it against a team like Ottawa,” Rucinsky said. “You can’t underestimate them, but sometimes it’s hard to get a feel for them because they’re a new team.”

Philadelphia 5, Washington 5--Eric Lindros scored three goals, the third coming on a penalty shot with 19 seconds to play in regulation, to give the Flyers a tie at Landover, Md.

Referee Paul Devorski awarded the penalty shot after ruling that Washington defenseman Al Iafrate had deliberately dislodged the net from its moorings during a flurry near the Capitals’ net.

Lindros lifted a shot above goaltender Don Beaupre’s left shoulder and under the crossbar for his 19th goal of the season.

The penalty shot ruined a comeback from a four-goal deficit by the Capitals, who took a 5-4 lead on a goal by Dimitri Khristich with 7:17 to play in the third period.

St. Louis 3, Chicago 2--Defenseman Murray Baron scored his first goal of the season at 1:35 of overtime to give the Blues a victory at Chicago.

St. Louis ended a five-game winless streak and posted its first victory over the Blackhawks this season after two losses.

Detroit 5, Toronto 1--Steve Yzerman had a goal and two assists as the Red Wings won at Toronto.

Dino Ciccarelli, Shawn Burr, Dallas Drake and Ray Sheppard also scored for Detroit. Dmitri Mironov scored for Toronto.

The Maple Leafs were held scoreless on seven power-play attempts.

N.Y. Islanders 6, N.Y. Rangers 4--Steve Thomas scored two goals as the Islanders extended their home-ice domination of their rivals to 12 games.

The Islanders not only got back to .500, they extended their unbeaten streak against the Rangers to 10-0-2. The Rangers’ last victory on Long Island came on Oct. 28, 1989.

Minnesota 5, Winnipeg 4--Russ Courtnall’s second goal of the game, at 13:38 of the third period, lifted the North Stars at Bloomington, Minn.

Courtnall swept a loose puck and beat Jet goaltender Rick Tabaracci with a slapshot from above the right circle for his 14th goal

Moments earlier, the Jets had gotten goals from Ed Olczyk and Keith Tkachuk in a 58-second span to erase a 4-2 Minnesota lead.

Boston 9, Hartford 4--Dmitri Kvartalnov had two goals and an assist and Adam Oates scored two power-play goals as the Bruins ended the Whalers’ six-game home unbeaten streak.

Kvartalnov capped a four-goal uprising by the Bruins during a 7:21 stretch of the second period with a breakaway goal, then added his 18th of the season only 58 seconds into the third period.