NHL Roundup : Canadiens Alone at Top After 7-1 Win Over Nordiques

Guy Carbonneau scored two goals and assisted on another Thursday night as the Montreal Canadiens overwhelmed the Quebec Nordiques, 7-1, at Montreal to take sole possession of first place in the Adams Division.

“That’s the best game we played all year,” Carbonneau said. “And it came in our most important game of the schedule. But we had a feeling, a special one. We could tell in Wednesday’s practice and in the warmup before tonight’s game that everyone was up for this one.”

The victory broke a first-place tie between the teams and gave the Canadiens a two-point lead over the Nordiques with two games to play.

Boston 5, Buffalo 3--Rick Middleton and Ray Bourque each scored two goals and goalie Doug Keans posted his eighth victory in his last nine games as the Bruins upended the Sabres at Boston.

The loss dropped the third-place Sabres three points behind Montreal in the Adams Division race.

Philadelphia 3, N.Y. Islanders 0--Tim Kerr collected a goal and an assist as the Flyers beat the Islanders at Philadelphia for their club-record 52nd victory of the season.

The Flyers, winners of the Patrick Division title, bettered the 51 games won by the 1974-75 and 1975-76 Philadelphia teams.

The victory improved the Flyers’ home record to 32-4-4, best in the league. They have also won 14 straight at home, another NHL best this season.

Flyer goalie Pelle Lindbergh played a spectacular game in his league-leading 39th victory and second shutout of the season.

Hartford 2, Washington 0--Goaltender Mike Liut stopped 40 shots as the Whalers frustrated the Capitals at Hartford, Conn.

The victory gave Hartford the season series with Washington for the first time in six years. It also was the Whalers’ 29th victory, their highest total since joining the NHL in 1979.

The Capitals outshot the Whalers, 40-18, and outplayed them, but Liut’s performance in the nets allowed goals by Greg Malone and Ray Ferraro to stand up.

N.Y. Rangers 5, St. Louis 4--Anders Hedberg scored his 19th and 20th goals of the season, both on power plays, to lead the Rangers to the win at St. Louis.

The loss stalled the slumping Blues’ bid to move closer to their fifth division title in 18 NHL seasons. St. Louis is clinging to a two-point lead over the Chicago Black Hawks in the Norris Division. Both teams have two games remaining.