Tugnutt, Sens Rock Bruins

By CBSNews.com staff CBSNews.com staff

February 18, 1999 / 10:57 PM EST / CBS Sportsline

Ron Tugnutt added another chapter to his dream season Thursday night.

The Ottawa Senators netminder made 30 saves and was named the game's first star as he shut out the Boston Bruins 2-0.

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

Related Links

Game summary

More NHL features:

Enforce-O-Meter rankings

Next Generation

Exclusive audio

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 win 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."

Daniel Alfredsson scored in the game's second minute and Alexei Yashin connected later in the period for Ottawa.

Boston missed a chance to move into the eighth and final playoff spot in the East. Boston lost for only the second time in Ottawa (13-2-2).

"We gave them too much early," said Bruins coach Pat Burns. "When the Senators take a 2-0 lead, you're in trouble. They're pretty confident."

Boston had several good chances to get on the scoreboard.

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.

Later, defenseman Ray Bourque hit the post with a slap shot from the left point on a Boston power play.

"When you have a goal called back and Ray Bourque hits a post, you run out of excuses after a while, said goalie Byron Dafoe. "You have to be able to play through all that."

Tugnutt's best save was in the second period, when he stoned Cameron Mann on a breakaway by sliding across the crease to make the a pad stop.

"It's not skills, it's battling," said Ottawa coach Jacques Martin. "You know when you play them, you have to be prepared to battle."

Alfredsson opened the scoring when his backhander floated through the glove of Anson Carter and Kyle McLaren's screen past Dafoe 77 seconds into the game.

"I just threw it at the net," said Alfredsson. "Hopefully someone was going to be there for a rebound. When it went it: Wow."

Later in the first period with the Senators on a power play, Yashin slipped a pass from Andreas Johansson past Dafoe for his team-leading 27th goal.