NHL

Senators win helps Lightning

OTTAWA -- Radek Bonk, Mike Fisher, Karel Rachunek and Wade Redden scored power-play goals as Ottawa took advantage of Toronto's lack of discipline in a 4-1 victory on Tuesday.

With its victory, the Lightning moved within six points of the Maple Leafs for fifth in the East.

Toronto's Darcy Tucker was given 42 minutes in penalties, including a double game misconduct, 7:30 into the third after setting off a melee involving players on the Ottawa bench.

The Maple Leafs were given 24 penalties for 111 minutes in the game, including 13 for 75 in the third. Ottawa drew 12 penalties for 52 minutes and five for 32 in the third.

Tucker skated to the Senators bench and cross-checked Chris Neil before throwing punches at the Ottawa right wing, who was on the bench.

During the fracas, Maple Leafs coach Pat Quinn banged a stick on the top of the pane of glass at the end of Toronto's bench. Objects and taunts were tossed between the benches.

CAPITALS 2, SABRES 1: Jeff Halpern scored twice for visiting Washington, which moved to a season-best seven games above .500 to stay two points ahead of the Lightning. Halpern's second goal, which made it 2-1, was nearly identical to his first. On a power play with 1:14 left in the second, Halpern's shot from along the boards went through Martin Biron's legs.

BRUINS 4, HURRICANES 2: Brian Rolston had a goal and two assists for visiting Boston, which ended a season-worst nine-game winless streak. Ron Francis scored 15 seconds into the third to make it 3-2. The goal gave Francis his 20th 20-goal season. Only Gordie Howe has more with 22.

WILD 3, DEVILS 2: Willie Mitchell's late goal lifted host Minnesota. His shot from the left point glanced off Devils defender Raymond Giroux and past Martin Brodeur with 4:50 left.

BLUES 2, PREDATORS 1 (OT): Justin Papineau scored 1:45 into overtime for host St. Louis. Bryce Salvador sent a pass to Papineau, who broke in alone and scored. Pavol Demitra tied it 6:27 into the first for St. Louis, 12 seconds after Scott Hartnell made it 1-0.

FLYERS 3, CANUCKS 0: Michal Handzus and Donald Brashear scored less than three minutes in for host Philadelphia. Roman Cechmanek had 41 saves to tie Ron Hextall for second on Philadelphia's career shutout list with 18. Handzus made it 1-0 37 seconds in with a wraparound backhander. Brashear made it 2-0 2:08 later, lifting a loose puck past Peter Skudra.

COYOTES 4, PENGUINS 1: Shane Doan scored visiting Phoenix's first two goals. The Penguins lost their sixth in a row despite getting a goal from someone other than Mario Lemieux for the first time in four games.

OILERS 2, SHARKS 1: Todd Marchant broke a tie with 5:46 left for host Edmonton. Ryan Smyth, back after missing nine games because of a shoulder injury, scored in the first and set up Marchant's winner.

SENATORS: Several players agreed to restructure their contracts, freeing up money for the bankrupt team. General manager John Muckler declined to name the players or dollar amounts but said it was to facilitate last week's trade that brought Vaclav Varada and his $1.3-million salary from Buffalo.

Also, commissioner Gary Bettman said Canadian billionaire Eugene Melnyk is looking over the team's books for a possible purchase.

TRADE: Ottawa acquired right wing Joey Tetarenko from Florida for goaltender Simon Lajeunesse. Tetarenko had four penalty minutes in two games since being called up. Lajeunesse has split time between Binghamton of the AHL and Peoria of the ECHL. He was 7-7-1 with a 2.92 goals-against average for Binghamton.

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