Goalies Rick Tabaracci of the Caps and Ken Wregget of Calgary matched shutouts as the teams failed to score in 65 minutes of hockey at the Saddledome in Calgary, Alberta. Wregget stopped all 27 shots he faced, and Tabaracci, a former Flames goaltender, stopped the 20 that came his way.
For Tabaracci, it was his 14th career shutout, his fifth in a Caps sweater.
The only other scoreless draw involving the Caps was on Dec. 10, 1988, in Montreal with Pete Peeters in goal for the Caps and Patrick Roy for the Canadiens.
Washington thought it had scored eight minutes into the second period when Ken Klee's shot from the left point was tipped through the legs of Wregget. But referee Terry Gregson immediately waved off the goal, ruling it had been tipped by a high stick. Mike Eagles and Chris Simon waved at the puck as it passed, and it was believed Eagles made contact.
Both teams are low-scoring this season, and good chances were limited last night. The Caps were trying to come back after getting their ears pinned back 8-2 Wednesday night in Edmonton, while the Flames were trying to win their first of the season at home. They are now 0-2-2.
Washington killed all three Calgary power plays but failed to score on either of its own. The Caps have now gone since the second period of the Montreal game Oct. 16 without scoring a power-play goal.
The Caps' number of man-games lost to injury rose to 44 when defenseman Brendan Witt, injured in Edmonton, was unable to play. He sustained a hip flexor and will be out for at least a week. He was replaced by Calgary native Nolan Baumgartner.
The Caps should gain a player today when center Andrei Nikolishin is scheduled to join the club in Vancouver after ending his holdout Tuesday. If he passes his physical, the coaching staff plans to insert him into the lineup immediately.
Notes - Peter Bondra, Olie Kolzig, Adam Oates and Sergei Gonchar are the Caps' representatives on the NHL's all-star ballot this season. Kolzig and Bondra played in last season's game in Vancouver; this year's exhibition is scheduled for Tampa, Fla., and again will feature a North America vs. the World format. Oates is the lone Washington representative on the North America ballot; the others are up for selection to the World team. . . .
The Caps have loaned goalie Martin Brochu to the Utah Grizzlies of the International League. Washington has Mike Rosati and Sebastian Charpentier in Portland, Maine, and three is not a workable number in goalie rotations. . .