NHL Roundup : 7 Gretzky Assists Help Oilers, 12-9

n Wayne Gretzky is such a gifted athlete that he can provide whatever is needed to spur the Edmonton Oilers’ offense. If they need scoring, he can provide as many as 92 goals in a season. If it’s passing they need, he is also the best in the game at setting up goals.

Gretzky, in the last two seasons, has decided he is more valuable as the playmaker. Last season, he set an NHL record with 135 assists.

After his performance Wednesday night at Chicago, hockey’s best player is on a pace that would shatter his own mark.

In a wild 12-9 victory over the Black Hawks, Gretzky had seven assists to tie a single-game record he already shares. The record was set by Billy Taylor of Detroit in 1947 and tied by Gretzky in 1980.

Gretzky did such a terrific job as playmaker that his linemates, Glenn Anderson and Jari Kurri both had hat tricks. Gretzky did not score a goal.

In the first 23 minutes, Gretzky led the Oilers to a 6-0 lead. But as they have done so often this season, the two-time Stanley Cup champions relaxed and allowed the Black Hawks to make a game of it. At one time in the second period, it was a 7-5 game.

Each team had 18 shots in the second period and each scored six times. It was not surprising that in the final period, both teams came out with new goalies. For the Oilers, Grant Fuhr replaced Andy Moog. For Chicago, Bob Sauve replaced Murray Bannerman.

Some defense was played in the third period, and only five goals were scored on 23 shots. For the game, the Black Hawks had 46 shots, the Oilers 44.

It may be that if the Oilers don’t start playing better defense, they might make Gretzky a defenseman. He would probably be a star at stopping goals, too.

New York Islanders 4, Pittsburgh 4--It has been the habit of the Islanders in recent seasons to battle for first place in the Patrick Division.

Early in the 1980s, the Islanders won four consecutive Stanley Cups. Now, they find themselves battling the Rangers, Pittsburgh and New Jersey for the final two playoff spots in the division.

In this game at Pittsburgh in which Denis Potvin again failed to get the point he needed to become the all-time scorer among defensemen, Mike Bullard scored halfway through the last period to get the Penguins a tie.

In the battle for third and fourth, the Rangers and Islanders each have 29 points, the Penguins 26 and the Devils 25.

Minnesota 10, Detroit 2--Brian Bellows scored four goals, and Scott Djugstad had his first NHL hat trick to help the North Stars end a two-game losing streak at Detroit.

Among Bellows’ goals was a short-handed score on a breakaway in the third period.

Montreal 3, Hartford 1--Goaltender Patrick Roy stopped 34 shots at Hartford, and the Canadiens scored the deciding goal on a power play late in the first period.

Mats Naslund scored his 20th goal of the season as Montreal, the league leader in power-play goals, converted only one of four chances.

Toronto 6, St. Louis 4--Al Iafrate had a goal and two assists at Toronto to lead the Maple Leafs to victory. Toronto broke it open with three straight goals in the second period.

Rookie Ken Wregget continued to play well in the nets for the Leafs. Wregget stopped 27 shots to earn the victory.

New York Rangers 4, New Jersey 2--Mark Pavelich scored the decisive goal on a power play late in the second period at East Rutherford, N.J., as the Rangers ended the Devils’ three-game winning streak.

Winnipeg 6, Vancouver 3--Laurie Boschman scored two goals for the Jets in a game between struggling teams at Vancouver. With Coach Barry Long’s job reportedly in jeopardy, the Jets shook off a sluggish start and scored three goals in the third period to snap a 3-3 tie and gain only their fourth victory in the last 19 games.