NHL Roundup : Lawless Streak Is Too Much for Sabres : Seldom-Used Wing Gets Hat Trick as Whalers Rally to 6-4 Win

Paul Lawless had the first hat trick of his career Friday night at Buffalo, and his third goal was the decisive one in the Hartford Whalers’ 6-4 win over the Sabres.

Lawless, a left wing who has played only briefly in four seasons, broke a 4-4 tie with his ninth goal of the season with just 2:04 remaining in the game.

The Whalers trailed, 4-1, near the halfway point of the game. But Lawless and another youngster, Dean Evason, led a determined rally. Evason, playing in just his second game since being called up from the minors, scored his first goal of the season at 9:28 of the second period and Lawless scored his second goal late in the period to cut the lead to one.

Risto Siltanen, with his fourth goal of the season, tied it early in the final period. Then Lawless put the Whalers in front to stay. With time running out, Evason clinched it with a shot into an empty net for his second goal.

“It’s a game-by-game basis for me and I want management to see what I can do,” Evason said.

Gil Perreault had an assist on the fourth Buffalo goal to give him 1,282 career points and move him into sixth place on the all-time list.

Edmonton 6, Winnipeg 3--Wayne Gretzky turned from playmaker to goal scorer in the closing minutes at Winnipeg and he may have put an end to the career of Barry Long as Jets’ coach.

The Jets had high hopes of challenging the Oilers this season, but they have been in a prolonged slump. In the last 20 games they are 5-13-2.

The Jets built a 3-0 lead, but Gretzky assisted on two goals to get the Oilers rolling. After rookie Raimo Summanen put the Oilers ahead, 4-3, with 4:26 left in the game, Gretzky followed with two quick unassisted goals. In his last six games Gretzky has 24 points, 21 of them assists.

Wednesday night at Chicago, he tied a league record with seven assists. For the season he has 78 points, 21 of them goals.