NHL ROUNDUP : Moog Posts Consecutive Shutouts

For the first time in his NHL career, Boston goalie Andy Moog recorded consecutive shutouts, and his teammates almost fashioned a shutout of their own.

If Moog hadn’t stuck out his stick to stop Rob Ramage’s harmless, slightly wide shot with 24 seconds to play, the Bruins would have held Montreal without a shot in the third period of Thursday night’s 2-0 victory at Boston.

“To a hockey purist, that’s great hockey,” said Boston forward Dave Poulin, a defensive specialist. “Your goal is to try to suffocate (the opposition).”

Moog stopped 21 shots on Wednesday in a 2-0 victory at Buffalo and has won his last 10 games. He has 16 shutouts in his 13-year NHL career.

The Bruins are closing in on Montreal, which has 96 points with eight games to play. The Bruins have 93 with nine to go.

Pittsburgh 4, New Jersey 3--Mario Lemieux scored a shorthanded goal and had three assists at Pittsburgh as the Penguins clinched a playoff spot and set a franchise record with their eighth consecutive victory.

The Penguins became the first NHL team with 100 points this season. It is their first 100-point season.

The Penguins’ previous longest winning streak was seven games at the start of the 1986-87 season. It was matched this season from Oct. 13-27.

Buffalo 6, Chicago 4--Alexander Mogilny scored his 72nd goal and added two assists at Chicago, keeping the Blackhawks from gaining at least a share of first place in the Norris Division. The Sabres relied on a tough defense and got outstanding third-period goaltending from Grant Fuhr.

Minnesota 3, Toronto 3--Doug Gilmour finished a record-tying night with a wrap-around goal late in the third period at Bloomington, Minn., to lift the Toronto Maple Leafs to the tie.

Gilmour, who also had two assists, tied Toronto’s single-season point record of 117 set by Darryl Sittler in 1977-78.

Tampa Bay 3, Ottawa 2--Mikael Andersson deflected in a looping shot from the blue line 36 seconds into overtime to give the Lightning a victory at Ottawa.

The Lightning ended an eight-game losing streak, and Ottawa lost its seventh in a row.

Washington 5, New York Islanders 2--Pat Elynuik scored twice at Uniondale, N.Y., as the Capitals strengthened their position in the Patrick Division race.

The second-place Capitals, who won their fourth in a row, moved five points ahead of New Jersey.

Philadelphia 5, San Jose 2--Mark Recchi had two goals and an assist and Eric Lindros scored in his sixth consecutive game as the Flyers upended the Sharks at Philadelphia.