NHL Roundup : Jensen Sharp Again; Flyers Boost Streak to 12

The Philadelphia Flyers, their hearts obviously heavy with grief, have dedicated this season to Pelle Lindbergh, the brilliant goalie whose life was ended by an auto accident last week.

Not only did death strike down their best goaltender and maybe the best in the league, but a groin injury put their other fine netminder, Bob Froese, out of action.

So, when the Flyers returned to action Thursday night, they had only Darren Jensen, a goalie who had flopped in his only NHL game last season.

Jensen has risen to the occasion, along with his new teammates.

After stopping 29 shots and beating the Stanley Cup champion Edmonton Oilers, 5-3, Thursday night, he came right back with another sparkling effort Saturday night at Hartford.

Jensen stopped 31 shots, 16 of them in a hectic second period and the Flyers whipped the Whalers, 5-2, for a club-record 12th consecutive victory.

Rick Tocchet scored twice, including the go-ahead score late in the second period, and the Flyers broke the game open with three more goals in the final period. The Flyers’ 14-2-0 record is the best in the league.

“It is amazing, the intensity these kids have had in the last two games, “ Coach Mike Keenan said. “Winning or losing was not the factor. It was the way they played the game.

“They haven’t been particularly emotional. They have grieved for more than a week.”

The Flyers are looking for an experienced goaltender, but the way Jensen is playing they aren’t in any hurry.

At 25, Jensen apparently has arrived. Before being brought up from Hershey of the American League, he was 8-1-0 with a goals-against average less than 3.00.

“When I faced the Islanders last season and gave up the seven goals, I was nervous,” Jensen said. “This time everything has happened so fast I haven’t had time to think.”

St. Louis 6, Vancouver 5--The Blues aren’t too good in games decided in regulation time, but get them into overtime and they are unbeatable.

Joe Mullen scored at 2:09 of overtime at St. Louis to give the Blues, leading the Norris Division, a 3-0-3 record in overtime. In other games the Flyers are only 3-6-0.

The Blues took the lead five times in regulation, only to have the Canucks come back to tie each time. Tony Tanti’s 15th goal of the season tied it for the final time with 7:16 remaining in regulation.

Toronto 6, Chicago 4--Former King Greg Terrion scored three goals at Toronto to help the Maple Leafs end a club-record 13-game winless streak.

It was the first home win for Toronto, which had three ties in the long streak, since last March.

Edmonton 4, New York Islanders 4--Lee Fogolin and Mike Krushelnyski scored just 24 seconds apart in a wild third period at Uniondale, N.Y., to get the Oilers a tie.

Krushelnyski’s goal came with 4:10 remaining in regulation. The Oilers had the only two shots on goal in overtime.

Detroit 4, Minnesota 2--Fiery goalie Greg Stefan stopped 29 saves at Bloomington, Minn., and Steve Yzerman keyed the offense as the surging Red Wings moved into third place in the Norris Division.

The Red Wings opened the season 0-8-1. But in their last eight games they are 4-1-3.

Yzerman scored the winning goal midway through the second period and assisted on two other goals.

Quebec 3, Buffalo 1--David Shaw broke a 1-1 tie at 7:37 of the final period at Quebec to enable the Nordiques to end a three-game losing streak. It was a rough game in which 129 minutes in penalties were handed out. The Sabres had won four in a row.

Calgary 7, New Jersey 2--Rookie center Joel Otto tied a club record by assisting on three goals in the second period at Calgary to help the Flames breeze to victory. The Flames scored four goals in just over 5 1/2 minutes in the second period.

Washington 2, Boston 2--Defenseman Larry Murphy scored the first goal for the Capitals, and Craig Laughlin tipped in his shot from the point to get Washington the tie at Boston.

New York Rangers 2, Montreal 2--Ranger defenseman Ron Greschner intercepted a clearing pass and turned it into a tying goal at Montreal with only 1:46 remaining in regulation.

The Canadiens outshot the Rangers, 31-21. Each team had two shots in overtime.