NHL Roundup : Penguins Win, 5-2, as Lemieux Is the Star

Mario Lemieux, the NHL’s second-leading scorer, had a goal and two assists Wednesday night at Pittsburgh to lead the Penguins to a 5-2 victory over the Detroit Red Wings.

The second-year center led the Penguins to their fourth consecutive victory and moved a little closer to signing a lucrative multiyear contract.

The lowly Penguins selected Lemieux as the first player chosen in the 1984 draft. As a rookie the talented center from Montreal had 43 goals and 57 assists for 100 points to earn rookie honors. He is doing even better as a sophomore.

In 25 games he has 15 goals and 28 assists. In the days before Wayne Gretzky rewrote the scoring records, it would be considered a sensational start. All it’s worth now is a poor second. Gretzky has 54 points in 25 games.

“I think I deserve a long term contract,” the 20-year-old Canadian said. “I want to stay in Pittsburgh and not worry about my future.”

The Penguins originally signed the youngster to a three-year contract. He seeks a renegotiated contract calling for $2.5 million for five years.

Lemieux has made significant contributions to each of the four wins in a row. In this one he set up Moe Mantha in the second period, then scored early in the third period to make it 5-1.

That was easily enough goals for Roberto Romano. Romano, who shut out the New York Rangers Sunday night, stopped 22 shots by the Red Wings to register his fourth win in a row.

“Mario Lemieux is quite a player,” Detroit Coach Harry Neale said. “I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: You’re looking at the next scoring champion if Gretzky ever decides not to be.”

Warren Young, a teammate of Lemieux’s last season, scored twice for the Red Wings.

New York Rangers 7, Winnipeg 4--Tomas Sandstrom scored twice at New York to help the Rangers build a six-goal lead in the first 27 minutes.

The battling Jets fought back to score four goals in a row and cut the lead to 6-4 with six minutes remaining. The rally fell short and Bob Brooke completed the scoring into an empty net with just over a minute remaining.

The Jets had 31 shots on goal to 27 for the Rangers.

Calgary 8, Hartford 5--The Flames jumped off to a 4-1 lead in the first period at Calgary then had to hold off the determined Whalers.

Early in the third period the Whalers scored twice to tie the score, 4-4. But Steve Bozek ruined the rally by scoring at 9:36. Bozek scored again at 13:12 to finish off the Hartford hopes.

Quebec 5, Vancouver 4--Michel Goulet scored twice at Quebec and Alaine Cote clinched the victory for the Nordiques by scoring a short-handed goal. The defeat extended the Canucks’ winless streak to seven games.

Goaltender Clint Malarchuk gave up four goals on 22 shots but still won his third game in a row.

Buffalo 6, St. Louis 3--The Sabres fell behind, 3-1, at St. Louis, but rallied to gain the victory on third-period goals by Mike Foligno and John Tucker. The Sabres had lost four games in a row. It was only the Blues’ third loss at home this season.

The Blues took the 3-1 lead on goals late in the first period by Bernie Federko and Mark Hunter. But the Sabres tied it with two goals in the second period.

Toronto 10, New Jersey 7--Rookie Steve Thomas and Marian Stastny scored twice at Toronto to help the Maple Leafs gain the edge in a wild-scoring affair.

The Maple Leafs, trailing, 6-5, late in the second period, took the lead on goals by Chris Kotsopoulos and Thomas. They went on to score three times in the last period.

The 17 goals were scored on 64 shots.