Early Goals Help Senators Finally End Winless Streak

Magnus Arvedson and Wade Redden scored 80 seconds apart in the first period as the Ottawa Senators ended a nine-game winless streak with a 3-1 victory over the Washington Capitals at Kanata, Ontario, on Thursday.

Radek Bonk added an empty-net goal with 18 seconds left in the game for Ottawa, which was 0-8-1 in its previous nine games, including five straight losses at home.

Goaltender Ron Tugnutt stopped 24 shots for the Senators (10-12-4), who have beaten the Capitals (13-10-3) five consecutive times.

Arvedson scored his second goal of the season at 16:46 of the first period. One minute and 20 seconds later, Redden broke a zero for 16 slump for the Senators’ power play with his second goal of the season.

Washington’s Peter Bondra scored his 18th goal of the season at 16:27 of the second period, extending his point streak to 10 games.

Chicago 2, Calgary 2--Theoren Fleury scored the tying goal with 1:20 left in the third period as the struggling Flames salvaged a tie with the Blackhawks (9-13-4) at Calgary.

Fleury one-timed a shot past an out-of-position Jeff Hackett for the tie. Michael Nylander scored Calgary’s other goal.

Flames goaltender Rick Tabaracci made 30 saves, including stopping Steve Dubinsky on a partial breakaway at the end of the game.

Calgary (4-15-7) tied the score at 11:54 in the third period only to give up the lead 43 seconds later on Black’s goal.

Hackett finished the night with 39 saves including many key stops in the third period.

Dallas 4, Phoenix 1--Jere Lehtinen scored twice and Manny Fernandez made 31 saves in his first start of the season as the Stars won at Phoenix.

Dave Reid and Bob Bassen also scored for the Stars (17-4-4), who have won four consecutive games and five of their last six.

Dallas, whose 17 victories and 38 points lead the NHL, won despite being outshot 32-16.

Keith Tkachuk scored for the Coyotes, who lost for the second time in their last nine home games (6-2-1).

NHL Notes

The NHL board of governors will meet next week to vote on allowing the Toronto Maple Leafs to switch to the Eastern Conference next season. The Leafs would be switched to the Northeast Division, according to reports in the Toronto Sun. Nashville’s expansion team will replace Toronto in the Central Division. In 1999, the Atlanta franchise will start in the Eastern Conference. . . . Chicago Blackhawk forward Bob Probert, 32, will sit out the rest of the NHL season because of a torn right rotator cuff.