NHL Roundup : Rookie Scores 23rd Goal as Canadiens Top Bruins

Talented rookie Kjell Dahlin scored his 23rd goal of the season Wednesday night at Montreal to help the Canadiens beat Boston, 5-3, and give them sole possession of first place in the hotly contested Adams Division.

Dahlin, a 22-year-old right wing from Sweden, is a big reason why the Canadiens are leading the most competitive division.

Playing on a line with fellow countryman Mats Naslund and veteran center Bobby Smith, Dahlin is easily the leading scorer among first-year players. He has 44 points.

Naslund also had a goal, his 28th, to extend his scoring streak to 18 games. Defenseman Tom Kurvers slipped the puck to Naslund for a goal at 8:41 of the second period. Kurvers also assisted on Dahlin’s goal, which made it 5-3 early in the last period.

Toronto 11, Edmonton 9--Miroslav Frycer scored four goals at Toronto, and the Maple Leafs poured through the porous Oilers defense at will.

The teams set a Maple Leaf Gardens record for most goals by both teams in a game with 20.

The Leafs took the edge off another remarkable performance by Wayne Gretzky. The great one had the 37th hat trick of his career and added three assists. After 41 games, the perennial scoring champion has 31 goals and 78 assists for 108 points.

The Leafs scored five times against Andy Moog on 11 shots in less than 17 minutes. They continued their assault on Grant Fuhr.

After falling behind, 5-1, the Oilers, with Gretzky scoring twice, cut the lead to 5-4 in the second period. The teams scored five goals in the last 4:40 of the second period, which ended with Toronto leading, 7-6.

Frycer scored three of his goals in the last period to keep the Leafs in front.

New Jersey 8, Chicago 7--Just when the Black Hawks were playing well, they come up short at home against the weak Devils.

John MacLean broke a 6-6 tie midway through the final period and teammate Doug Sulliman scored 75 seconds later to end the Devils’ eight-game losing streak.

The Black Hawks had won five in a row and taken over first place in the Norris Division.

Defenseman Dave Pichette suffered a neck injury and possible concussion when he collided with the Black Hawks’ Wayne Presley early in the second period. He was carried off the ice on a stretcher.