NHL Roundup : Rangers Finally Down Flyers, 3-1

Rookie center Raimo Helinen scored the tie-breaking goal and assisted on another Sunday night at New York as the Rangers turned on their tormentors and beat the Philadelphia Flyers, 3-1.

Not since March 14, 1984, had the Rangers beaten or even tied the Broad Street Bullies. Fourteen times, including a three-game playoff sweep last spring, the Rangers had been humiliated by the Flyers.

To add insult to injury, the Flyers even engaged the Rangers in a series of brawls in an exhibition game in October in which a record 506 minutes in penalties were called.

The most recent defeat came Friday night at Philadelphia when the Rangers were shut out, 4-0.

It didn’t look good for the Rangers in this one either when Tim Kerr scored his 25th goal on a power play seven minutes into the game and less than two minutes later the Flyers were working on another power play.

However, Bob Brooke stole the puck and fed defenseman James Patrick for a 20-foot shot that tied it. Later in the first period Helinen put a backhander into the net to break the tie.

The Flyers brought Al Jensen in to replace Bob Froese, the shutout winner on Friday, at the start of the second period. Midway through the period on a power play, Helinen set up Ron Greschner for the stalwart defenseman’s 10th goal of the season.

Edmonton 4, Chicago 3--The Oilers scored on their first three shots of the game--the first a short-handed score by Jari Kurri--at Edmonton, then held off the stubborn Black Hawks.

It was a dull game largely because the Black Hawk plan was to keep the puck away from Wayne Gretzky. The scoring star had only an assist. Chicago center Troy Murray spent the night shadowing Gretzky.

Buffalo 3, Boston 3--Jay Miller may not soon forget his first NHL goal. The burly winger, playing in his third game, scored with 4:21 left in regulation at Boston to give the Sabres a tie.

The Bruins lost defenseman Ray Bourque with a sprained left ankle trying to stop a goal by Don Lever early in the second period.