Out of Town Scoreboard:
Cleveland 2 at Buffalo 2: The Sabres looked to be bouncing back from their 1st defeat of the season when they took a 2-0 lead on Gilbert Perrault's marker in the 2nd which followed an injury to Cleveland's best defenceman Greg Smith. But the Barons would hang around against the Sabres best possible lineup, as Walt McKechnie and Rick Hampton would net last minute goals to salvage a point - and their teams playoff hopes. Gilles Meloche made several big saves to keep the Barons in the game.
Montreal 4 at Hartford 1: Suffocating defence by Larry Robinson and Rick Green kept the Whalers off the score sheet until Blaine Stoughton scored - off Green's head! - with 4 seconds remaining. The Whalers had a chance to tighten the playoff race; but were no match here for Montreal, only mustering 9 shots against Rick Wamsley.
Boston 8 at Quebec 2: Anton Stastny opened the scoring for the Nordiques in the game's opening shift but it was all Bruins the rest of the way. Barry Pederson and Rick Middleton each scored 3 and assisted on 2, while Ray Bourque netted a rare CPU controlled 2-goal game by a defenceman. After a sluggish start, the preseason favourites are rolling; winning the first 2 games of a 3 game road trip by a combined 14-4. ...Next up the Forum in Montreal!
Philadelphia 4 at NY Rangers 4: The Flyers best possible forward trio of Bill Barber, Bobby Clarke and Ron Sutter gave the Rangers fits in the opening period, pacing Philly to a 3-0 advantage. The Rangers though would clamp down, and eventually take a 4-3 lead. The Flyers would tie it - and could've won it - but Clarke took a possible game-winning breakaway away from Sutter when he dropped the gloves with Tom Laidlaw to settle a score from several earlier checks by the imposing Rangers' blueliner. See footage --- Sutter would've likely scored as only light-weight Robbie Ftorek had a remote chance of catching him,
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| Boutette takes one for the team |
NY Islanders 4 at Pittsburgh 4: Bob Nystrom manages to top Clarke, by deciding to slug it out with Pat Boutette just as Anders Kallur's possible game-winner was about to cross the line. Nystrom would leave Boutette's face bloody - but may have left his team's playoff chances a little injured as well. Also in the footage.
New Jersey 4 at Washington 4: The Patrick Division was expected to be the tightest this season, and that is coming to fruition as the first 3 divisional matches in the circuit end in 4-4 draws. A key turning point in the game was when Randy Holt - a defensive liability for the Capitals - made himself valuable by knocking top Devil forward Mel Bridgman out of the game in a 3rd period fight. The first place Caps took advantage, rallying from a 4-2 deficit to earn the point. Could have been 2, but Mike Gartner and Bobby Gould were both robbed by Chico Resch in the final seconds.
St. Louis 4 at Detroit 2: The Blues go into Detroit and handle the Wings in this battle for 1st in the Norris Division. Dwight Foster had the game tying goal on his stick with Rick Heinz down and out, but would clang one off the post in the game's final minute. Wayne Babych would put the game on ice moments later, outmuscling Reed Larson for his 4th of the game.
Atlanta 3 at Minnesota 8 - The North Stars offence continues to soar, as they hang an 8-spot on another visitor to The Met Centre. Unlike last week's thriller with the Oilers, this week's opponent couldn't dream of keeping up with them. 8's are wild for the Firebirds - and not in a good away - 8 goals against and an 0-8 record. Both Minnesota and St. Louis clinch a playoff spot with a 1/3 of the season remaining - thanks in large part to the futility of Atlanta and Chicago.
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| Babych was too much for the Canucks |
at both ends of the rink, propelling the 1st place Jets to a commanding victory over visiting Vancouver. This was among the most dominating performances of the season.
Calgary 4 at Edmonton 4 - The Flames may be coming to life as Lanny McDonald scored a pair and the defensive tandem of Jamie Macoun and Steve Konroyd - plus defensively aware forward Doug Risebrough - kept the Oilers attack largely at bay in this one. Jari Kurri would eventually breakthrough for a hat trick, to salvage a draw for the home side in the inaugural Battle of Alberta.
Los Angeles 3 at Colorado 6 - The Rockies were clicking this week, connecting on 22 of 25 passes (89%) and firing 22 shots at Gary Laskoski, easily disposing of the Kings 6-3. Both Anders Hakansson and Brian MacClellan were knocked out of the 1st period as Colorado set the tone physically before taking care of the Kings on the scoreboard. The game was 4-0 after 2 periods.
Feature Game: Chicago (0-6-1) at Toronto (3-4-0)
A very good example of Empty Net hockey. The Leafs controlled this game nearly throughout, but got too cute in their own end on the Hawks 1st goal. As can happen this triggered a flurry for the Hawks as they score all 3 of their goals within 23 seconds - and should've had 4 in 40 had Curt Fraser found the empty net. Both the CPU and HUM can fire goals in quick succession off the faceoff; but can go into long droughts as well. The Leafs help their cause in this one by injuring 2 Hawks forwards, meaning their all-33 rating injury replacements come in; and Greg Terrion capitalizes on a terrible Dave Feamster giveaway to tie it. Still this should've been the 1st win of the year for the visitors; but oh do the Leafs catch a break in the end...
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