NHL Roundup : Bowman a Winner in First Game of Fourth Term, 5-4

Scotty Bowman has made as many comebacks as Billy Martin.

Bowman, the Buffalo general manager, began his fourth term as coach of the Sabres Friday night at Buffalo, and he was rewarded with an overtime victory.

Rookie center Gates Orlando scored at 1:11 of the extra session to give the Sabres a 5-4 victory over the Montreal Canadiens. Orlando, recalled just before the game, fired a shot that deflected off the skate of Montreal’s Petr Svoboda into the net.

Bowman, who once directed the Canadiens to four consecutive Stanley Cups, replaced Jim Schoenfeld as Sabre coach. Schoenfeld, a former star defenseman for the Sabres, lasted just 43 games (19-19-5).

The main difference between Bowman and Martin, who has managed the New York Yankees four times, is that Bowman decides whether Bowman will coach the Sabres, but it is owner George Steinbrenner who decides whether Martin will manage the Yankees.

“I’m going back behind the bench in the hope I can do a better job than I did a year ago,” said Bowman, who has a .670 winning percentage and 719 victories, the most in the NHL.

Bowman joined the Sabres in 1979 and gave the coaching duties to Roger Nielson the next season. Bowman replaced Nielson the following season, and later came back to replace Jim Roberts.

Schoenfeld was fined $5,000 by the NHL on Thursday for throwing a water bottle at referee Terry Gregson during a game Dec. 10. The Sabres said that had nothing to do with his firing.

Pat Hughes scored with 7:49 left in regulation to get the Sabres even and set the stage for overtime.

“This could turn things around and help our confidence,” Bowman said.

New York Islanders 4, Philadelphia 3--It took an alert linesman and a video replay to get a victory for the Islanders at Philadelphia.

Referee Bryan Lewis at first ruled that Bryan Trottier’s goal came after time expired. But linesman Kevin Collins told Lewis the goal came before time expired. The television replay proved Collins was correct.

The Flyers led, 3-1, after two periods, but Mark Hamway and Brent Sutter scored to tie the game.

Mike Bossy put a perfect pass on Trottier’s stick, and the veteran center shoveled the puck into the net behind goalie Bob Froese.

“They said there was one second left,” Froese said. “It’s a tough way to lose.”

Hartford 11, Quebec 6--For two weeks, Clint Malarchuk was the NHL’s hottest goaltender. He was impressive in all seven games of a Nordique winning streak, yielding only 16 goals.

But in this game at Hartford, Conn., he gave up six goals in less than 23 minutes. Last Tuesday night, his winning streak ended when he gave up three last-period goals to Winnipeg.

Ron Francis and Paul MacDermid each scored twice as the usually defense-minded Whalers became quite offensive.

Washington 4, New Jersey 3--Gaetan Duchesne took a pass from Dave Christian and put a quick wrist shot past goaltender Craig Billingham with just 85 seconds remaining at East Rutherford, N.J., to end the Capitals’ three-game losing streak.

Winnipeg 5, Chicago 1--Dale Hawerchuk scored his 32nd goal and assisted on another as the Jets overpowered the Black Hawks at Winnipeg.

The Jets fired 44 shots at Chicago goaltender Murray Bannerman. It was Chicago’s third loss in 15 games.