Fitzpatrick Gets Some Help and Defeats Buffalo

Florida goaltender Mark Fitzpatrick finally ran into a little luck, and the Panthers used it to break a three-game losing streak.

Fitzpatrick, 0-10-8 since last December, caught a big break late in the third period when an apparent goal was disallowed in a victory over the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday night at Buffalo.

With 2:28 remaining and the Panthers trying to hold a 3-2 lead, Sabre forward Curtis Brown scored what appeared to be a game-tying goal when he poked a rebound past the goal line and into Fitzpatrick’s glove.

Off-ice officials ruled that Buffalo defenseman Jason Woolley was in the crease, negating the goal. Replays showed Woolley was pushed in by Panther forward Bill Lindsay. Florida forward Chris Wells then clinched the victory with an empty-net goal with 13 seconds left.

Boston 2, Washington 0--The Bruins did not permit one shot for the first 18 minutes of the third period and defeated the Capitals at Boston to move into a first-place tie with Ottawa in the Northeast Division.

Philadelphia 6, Edmonton 2--John LeClair had two goals and three assists and Petr Svoboda, Rod Brind’Amour, Dainius Zubrus, and Chris Gratton also scored at Philadelphia as the Flyers won their second straight game and ended a three-game home winless streak (0-2-1).

Chicago 2, St. Louis 1--James Black beat Grant Fuhr with a 30-foot slap shot with 1:31 to play to lift the Blackhawks over the Blues and their first four-game winning streak in more than a year at Chicago.

Ottawa 4, Phoenix 1--Phil Crowe scored the winning goal and the Senators also got goals from Alexandre Daigle, Shawn McEachern and Shaun Van Allen at Ottawa.

NHL Notes

Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Dino Ciccarelli has opted to undergo surgery on his right elbow to remove bone chips that have bothered him all season. . . . The owners of the new NHL franchise at Columbus apparently will draw upon Ohio’s American Indian heritage and name the team the Blue Jackets, broadcast reports said. . . . One of the two local groups interested in buying the Edmonton Oilers has dropped out of the bidding. The group led by Robert Proznik announced it is instead endorsing the other local group’s bid to purchase the team from Peter Pocklington.