NHL ROUNDUP : Failure to Convert Penalty Shot Costs Buffalo in Tie With Boston

On a night of penalties--the first two periods began with fights on the faceoffs--a missed opportunity on a penalty cost the Buffalo Sabres in a 3-3 tie with the Bruins Thursday night at Boston.

Wayne Presley, awarded a penalty shot when he was tackled by Boston’s Ray Bourque on a breakaway with 5:25 gone in the game, never got off a shot.

“I tried following him as much as possible,” Boston goalie Vincent Riendeau said. “He tried to fake the shot, and I closed my legs, so he changed his mind and lost the puck. I never touched it. He just lost control of it.”

Of the 20 penalty shots so far this season, only eight have resulted in goals.

Washington 4, St. Louis 3--Defenseman Al Iafrate scored twice and Rick Tabaracci made 32 saves for the Capitals at St. Louis.

The Capitals won their third consecutive game to improve to 6-2-0 since Jim Schoenfeld was named coach on Jan. 27.

New Jersey 7, Vancouver 3--Valeri Zelepukin scored a goal and set up two by Bill Guerin as the Devils tightened the race in the Eastern Conference at home.

The victory was the third in a row for New Jersey and moved the Devils within six points of the idle New York Rangers in the conference and the Atlantic Division.

New York Islanders 5, Pittsburgh 3--Derek King ended an eight-game scoreless streak and Vladimir Malakhov had three assists for the Islanders at Pittsburgh.

The Penguins have lost three consecutive games for the first time this season.

Tampa Bay 6, Ottawa 2--Chris Gratton scored twice as the Lightning won at Ottawa, Tampa Bay’s sixth victory in a row over its expansion colleagues.

Gratton’s line dominated all night as Tampa Bay outshot the Senators, 36-18. Petr Klima and Danton Cole each scored as the threesome rolled up eight points.

Philadelphia 4, Florida 3--Eric Lindros scored 50 seconds into overtime for the Flyers at home.

Lindros poked in a rebound of Garry Galley’s shot under Florida goaltender Mark Fitzpatrick.