NHL Roundup : Kerr Helps Flyers Beat Islanders

Tim Kerr, returning from a battle with the flu, scored twice Thursday night at Philadelphia to lead the Flyers to a 6-3 victory and end the New York Islanders’ domination over them this season.

Kerr, who missed four games, broke a 3-3 tie at 8:55 of the third period with his second goal of the game and 41st of the season. It came on a power play.

The Islanders, who had beaten the Flyers four times in a row, jumped off to a 2-0 lead on first-period goals by Bob Bourne and Tomas Jonsson.

Goaltender Billy Smith, who shut out Vancouver Tuesday night, extended his scoreless streak to 91 minutes before Brad McCrimmon scored on a power play early in the second period. After that, Kerr, Brian Propp, Mark Howe and Ron Sutter took charge for the Flyers.

“It was nice to be back,” Kerr said. “I had the flu for a couple of days, then I got pneumonia in one side.

“The last two days, I felt better. I guess scoring a couple of goals helped, because I felt better out there than I thought I would.”

Sutter, who had three assists, said the return of Kerr straightened out the Flyers’ power play. They scored three goals while the Islanders were short-handed.

“We had something to prove to ourselves,” Flyer Coach Mike Keenan said. “That was the point we were trying to make tonight, to establish ourselves with this hockey club again, and I think we did that.”

New Jersey 4, Montreal 3--Paul Gagne and Greg Adams each had a goal and an assist at East Rutherford, N.J., as the Devils jumped off to a 3-0 lead and hung on to shock the Canadiens.

The Canadiens, who needed a victory to regain first place in the Adams Division, charged back and pulled within one goal on Bobby Smith’s score at 9:37 of the third period.

But Glenn Resch, who faced 27 shots in the last two periods, managed to hold the lead.

St. Louis 5, Minnesota 3--Mark Hunter and Doug Wickenheiser scored goals 3 1/2 minutes apart in the third period at St. Louis to enable the Blues to hold onto second place in the Smythe Division.

The Blues pulled three points ahead in the battle for second place.

Chicago 5, Toronto 4--Curt Fraser completed a hat trick at Chicago at 3:29 of overtime to give the Black Hawks a hard-earned victory.

The Maple Leafs fired 43 shots at Bob Sauve, with Miroslav Frycer scoring three goals. In losing its last two games, Toronto had 89 shots on goal.