Pens, Senators Tie 1-1

March 29, 1998 / 7:06 PM EST / CBS/AP

When the Pittsburgh Penguins and Ottawa Senators have played this year, there hasn't been a lot of excitement or much difference between the teams.

Magnus Arvedson's third-period goal Sunday salvaged a 1-1 tie for the Senators, their third deadlock in four games against the Penguins this season.

"We've had some real thrillers (against Ottawa) this year, haven't we?" Penguins captain Ron Francis joked. "It's been 0-0, 2-0, 1-1 ... it's not really exciting hockey but they're doing what they have to do to get into the playoffs and we're doing what we have to do to get ready for the playoffs. What are you going to do?"

There's a chance these two teams could meet again when the playoffs start. The Penguins are virtually locked into second place in the Eastern Conference. The Senators could finish seventh and force a first-round playoff matchup.

"It could be the first time there's four 1-0 games," Francis said. "Hopefully that doesn't happen."

Since joining the NHL in 1992, the Senators are 0-12-3 at the Civic Arena, part of a 2-22-5 history against the Penguins. They've improved this year, but they still can't break the hex.

"I thought we played pretty good today," Senators coach Jacques Martin said. "I thought we stayed with our game plan."

The Senators dominated the second period, outshooting Pittsburgh 12-2, but couldn't beat rookie goalie Peter Skudra until 5:22 of the third period.

One of the Penguins' two shots in the second period was Stu Barnes' 29th goal. Barnes scored at 18:14 to help the Penguins break out of a 1-for-21 slump on the power play.

Goalie Damian Rhodes stopped Fredrik Olausson's point shot but Francis backhanded the rebound to Barnes, who batted it out of the air.

"The ice wasn't too good today so the puck was jumping every time you tried to make a pass," Barnes said.

The Senators, who played to a scoreless tie earlier this season in Pittsburgh, had gone 110 minutes and 22 seconds without scoring in Pittsburgh before Magnus Arvedson's goal at 5:22 of the third. Arvedson was left alone in the slot and put in Bruce Gardiner's pass from the right wing boards for his seventh goal.

Skudra made his third consecutive start replacing Tom Barrasso, who is out with the flu. Pittsburgh coach Kevin Constantine said Barrasso may be ready Wednesday against San Jose.

The Penguins started with a 7-1 edge in shots through the first seven minutes. They had only 10 shots the rest of the game once went through a 23 minute stretch with only two shots.

"Kudos to our defensive play," Rhodes said. "We didn't give them a lot of room."

Francis' assist on Barnes' goal was his 1,426th career point, allowing him to pass Bryan Trottier for ninth in NHL scoring.