NHL Roundup : Rebuilt Flyers Making a Run for Title

After the Philadelphia Flyers slipped to third place in the Patrick Division last season, they decided it was time for a change.

Gone were Bobby Clarke and Bill Barber, who led them in the glory days that produced two Stanley Cups a decage ago. It was time for new blood.

The Flyers brought in a new coach, Mike Keenan, who had success in the minors and in the junior ranks, but was a newcomer to the NHL. They also brought in a bunch of youngsters. They told Keenan to take his time but to do a solid rebuilding job.

Amazingly, the new coach has done it without a hitch. Not only are the Flyers rebuilt, they are challenging for the division title.

Derrick Smith and Dave Poulin scored short-handed goals and Tim Kerr scored his 46th Tuesday night at Hartford to lead the Flyers to a 3-2 victory over the Whalers and keep two streaks intact.

It was the eighth win in a row for the Flyers and extended the Whalers’ winless streak to 11 games (0-10-1).

The victory, after seven in a row at home, was an auspicious start for the Flyers’ five-game trip and allowed them to stay two points behind division-leading Washington.

Mike Liut, making his second start for the hapless Whalers after being obtained from St. Louis, sparkled in goal again. He stopped 29 shots. Without his work, it would have been a one-sided game.

Washington 3, Vancouver 2--Scott Stevens and Bob Gould scored goals two minutes apart in the second period and the Capitals celebrated their return home with a victory.

The Capitals had been on the road for 17 days. Until Stevens and Gould broke the game open, the Capitals were sluggish and hanging on with a 1-1 tie.

It was the third loss in a row for the Canucks and left them 23 points out of a playoff berth in the Smythe Division with only 18 games remaining.

Buffalo 4, New Jersey 3--Power-play goals by Dave Andrychuk, Mal Davis and Lindy Ruff at East Rutherford, N.J. enabled the Sabres to end a three-game losing streak.

The Sabres, who moved to within two points of first place in the Adams Division, built a 4-1 lead, then had to hang on after the Devils scored twice in the last period.