NHL ROUNDUP : Hunter Is Valuable in Return

Seven months after he last played in a hockey game, Dale Hunter picked up where he left off.

Hunter got two assists Friday night in his return from a record 21-game suspension, helping the Washington Capitals gain a 4-4 tie with the Pittsburgh Penguins at Landover, Md.

Hunter, 33, was fined and suspended for a late hit he delivered against the New York Islanders’ Pierre Turgeon in last season’s playoffs. It was the longest suspension for a non-stick-related incident in NHL history.

On Friday, he also had a hand in the game-tying goal in the third period and, typically, spent 14 minutes in the penalty box.

“You go into a game like this and you don’t know what to expect,” Hunter said. “I knew if I worked hard, things would happen. Eventually, they did.”

Hunter missed a chance to do further damage when he got into a scuffle with Rick Tocchet with 8:43 left in regulation and was given a 10-minute misconduct. He did not return.

“He gives them a shot in the arm,” Pittsburgh Coach Ed Johnston said. “I think he was directly responsible for some of their power-play goals. He comes out, stands in front of the net and makes something happen.”

Buffalo 5, Ottawa 2--Brad May scored two goals at Buffalo as the Sabres handed the Senators their sixth consecutive loss.

Ken Sutton, Dale Hawerchuk and Randy Wood also scored for the Sabres, who have won four of five since Pat LaFontaine, last season’s scoring leader, suffered a season-ending knee injury.

Vancouver 5, Winnipeg 3--Murray Craven scored midway through the final period to break a 3-3 tie at Winnipeg and end a three-game losing streak.

Winnipeg has only one victory and a tie in its last eight games.

Greg Adams (two), Pavel Bure and Trevor Linden also scored for the Canucks.

New Jersey 6, St. Louis 6--Jeff Brown’s second power-play goal of the game midway through the third period enabled the Blues to salvage the tie at St. Louis.

The Blues are undefeated in 11 games at home this season, (7-0-4) and have lost only one of their last 21 regular-season home games, dating to last season.

Chicago 6, Calgary 3--Jeff Hackett made 40 saves at Calgary and earned his first victory in 11 months.

Hackett, acquired in the off-season in a trade with San Jose, was especially sharp in the opening period as the Flames outshot the Blackhawks, 14-5.

Boston 3, Florida 2--Glen Wesley’s goal with 21 seconds left at Boston lifted the Bruins.

The Panthers outshot the Bruins, 42-35, but Bruin goalie John Blue kept his team in the game with a series of spectacular saves in the first period.

Philadelphia 3, Tampa Bay 0--Brent Fedyk had two goals and Tommy Soderstrom had 27 saves at Philadelphia to keep the Lightning winless on the road.

Tampa Bay is 0-8-2 away from home.