NHL ROUNDUP : Straka’s Three Goals Cool Bruins, Lead Pittsburgh

The hottest team in the NHL, the Boston Bruins, was put on ice in Pittsburgh by Martin Straka, who scored three goals to lead the Penguins to a 7-3 victory Tuesday night.

“They’re the team to beat right now, so I think we were geared up for them,” said right wing Doug Brown, who had three assists for Pittsburgh.

“I think it’s important for us to finish first in our (Eastern) conference. To do that, we have to beat the Bruins.”

Two of Straka’s goals came 21 seconds apart in a four-goal second period, as the Penguins ended Boston’s six-game winning streak.

The victory moved the Penguins within five points of Boston for the Northeast Division lead. Pittsburgh and Montreal each have 78 points.

“This is a time of year where you want to get going and not have any lapses,” Brown said.

Boston defenseman Ray Bourque said the Bruins had one of those unfortunate lapses.

“The intensity level was not where it needed to be tonight,” Bourque said. “No excuses. We should have played a lot better than that.”

Boston also may have been dragging a bit after playing three games in four nights.

Quebec 5, Ottawa 2--Ron Sutter scored two goals--the second into an empty net in the last minute--at Quebec as the Nordiques handed the Senators their sixth consecutive loss.

The Nordiques, who rank 25th of 26 teams in power-play efficiency, scored three goals with a man advantage. Besides Sutter, Valeri Kamensky and Joe Sakic also connected for power-play goals.

The Senators have lost 10 of their last 11 games.

Dallas 4, Philadelphia 3--Neal Broten scored a power-play goal 2:43 into overtime to give the Stars a victory at Philadelphia.

Broten poked in a rebound from the left side of the net for the game-winner as the Stars snapped a three-game winless streak (0-2-1). Dallas is 11-1-1 this season when Broten scores.

Buffalo 4, San Jose 4--Alexander Mogilny scored power-play goals in the second and third periods as the Sabres overcame a 4-2 Shark advantage at San Jose in a game in which neither team had a shot on goal in overtime.