Tugnutt Records Third Shutout

Ron Tugnutt added another chapter to his dream season, making 30 saves in the Ottawa Senators’ 2-0 victory over the Boston Bruins on Thursday night at Kanata, Canada.

Tugnutt, who got his third shutout this season and second in four starts, lowered his league-leading goals-against average to 1.58.

The Senators have won three straight and lead Toronto by four points in the Northeast Division. And on Saturday night, they have the chance to move into first place in the Eastern Conference with a victory over current leader Philadelphia.

“We’re finding a way to win hockey games,” said Tugnutt, who tied a career high for shutouts in a season. “When things are going well you get the bounces. When everybody does their part, we’re a pretty good hockey team.”

Boston’s Randy Robitaille, making his NHL debut, had what would have been his first NHL goal waved off late in the first period after a teammate crashed the net and hit Tugnutt.

St. Louis 0, Florida 0--Sean Burke made 27 saves and Jamie McLennan had 21 as the Blues and Panthers played to a scoreless tie at St. Louis.

After going 21 years without a scoreless tie, the Blues have played in two in the last two months. Grant Fuhr and Patrick Roy matched zeros on Dec. 14 in Colorado in a game that featured 54 shots.

The Blues’ last scoreless game at home was Jan. 7, 1978, against the Chicago Blackhawks.

Montreal 3, Philadelphia 1--Mark Recchi had a goal and an assist and Sergei Zholtok scored the winner on a power play early in the third period as the Canadiens won at Philadelphia.

Eric Lindros scored the only goal for the Flyers, who had their seven-game home unbeaten streak (5-0-2) ended. The Flyers are 1-3-2 in their last six games.

Carolina 2, Washington 2--Bates Battaglia tipped in Nolan Pratt’s shot from the right point with 2:41 left in regulation as the Hurricanes rallied to tie the Capitals at Greensboro, N.C.

Battaglia’s goal was his third in four games since moving to Carolina’s top line with Keith Primeau and Ray Sheppard. Paul Coffey got his 1,100th assist on Battaglia’s goal.

Around the League

Sergei Fedorov is contributing his entire $2 million salary for 1998-99 to a new charity that will help Detroit-area children. “Hockey has provided me with a means to an exciting and fulfilling life,” the Detroit Red Wing star said in announcing the creation of the Sergei Fedorov Foundation. Fedorov said the charity would give money to a variety of causes. . . . A strained groin will keep Dominik Hasek out of the Buffalo Sabres’ lineup for the next two games. The goaltender was hurt during Wednesday night’s loss to Toronto. . . . Legal representatives for Mario Lemieux met with NHL legal counsel as the former Pittsburgh Penguin star stepped up efforts to assemble an ownership group that would ease the team out of bankruptcy. Lemieux must raise at least $40 million to clean up the Penguins’ debt-laden balance sheet and supply short-term working capital.