NHL Roundup : Oilers Edge Out Flyers in Overtime and Win the Rubber Match, 3-2

The game at Edmonton between the Oilers and Philadelphia Flyers Sunday night was being billed as a probable preview of the championship round of the Stanley Cup competition.

If it was really a preview of what to expect, maybe the NHL should call off the post-season tournament.

In what should have been a bitter, dramatic affair, the rubber game between the two clubs shooting for a $200,000 prize was more like an exhibition game.

The Oilers, on Jari Kurri’s second goal of the game and 48th of the season, beat the Flyers, 3-2, with the winning goal coming at 1:29 of overtime.

The victory gave the Oilers a 2-1 edge in the season’s series and an eight-point lead over the Flyers in the overall standings. The team that finishes with the best record during the regular season wins a trophy, splits up $200,000 and has home ice advantage throughout the playoffs.

Despite everything that was at stake, it wasn’t much of a game. There were no explosions, no fights and not even any hard checks thrown. It was as if both teams just wanted to get through without anyone getting hurt.

It was not too surprising that the Flyers didn’t have much zip. They are in a mild slump and were playing their third game on the road in four nights. They appeared to be tired.

The loss cut the Flyers lead over Washington in the Patrick Division to just three points and ended their string of unbeaten games in overtime at six (2-0-4).

Boredom may be the Oilers’ problem. They are runaway leaders of the Smythe Division and beat the Flyers, 4-1, in the championship round a year ago. They don’t have much to prove.

Kurri’s first goal was set up by Wayne Gretzky. Gretzky drew three Flyers to him and slipped the puck to Kurri for a 1-0 Oiler lead in the second period. Tim Kerr, one of the challengers to Kurri’s bid to be the top goal scorer, scored his 44th a minute later and that was about all the excitement until overtime.

Washington 4, New York Rangers 2--Peter Sundstrom scored the first goal on a penalty shot by a Ranger in more than 22 years in the first period at New York, but the Capitals took charge thereafter.

Alan Haworth scored twice as the Capitals completed a sweep of the home-and-home set and closed in on the Flyers.

The Rangers remained five points behind Pittsburgh in the battle for the last playoff spot in the Patrick Division.

Hartford 4, Boston 1--Goaltender Mike Liut heard the boos as usual at Hartford, but there were also some cheers as he stopped 24 shots and the Whalers ended a four-game losing streak.

Stewart Gavin scored twice in the first period as the Whalers took advantage of the absence of Boston’s top defenseman Ray Bourque to win for only the third time in the last 17 games. Bourque suffered bruised ribs in Saturday’s game with New Jersey.

Chicago 6, St. Louis 4--Troy Murray and Curt Fraser each scored twice at Chicago and the Blackhawks increased their lead in the Norris Division to eight games.

The victory was the 300th in his NHL career for Bob Pulford, who began his coaching career with the Kings.

New Jersey 6, Winnipeg 4--The Devils spotted the Jets a 3-1 lead in the second period at East Rutherford, N.J., but rallied behind Mark Johnson’s hat trick to pull out the victory.

Johnson’s second goal broke a 4-4 tie with 2:47 left in the game, and he completed his big game with a short-handed goal into an empty net in the closing seconds.