NHL Roundup : Rangers Snap Oilers’ Streak; Larouche Scores 2 Goals

The New York Rangers got a hot goaltending performance from John Vanbiesbrouck and a hot hand from Pierre Larouche to cool off the Edmonton Oilers, 4-2, Friday night at New York.

“We’ve been playing very good hockey lately, but the Rangers just outplayed us tonight,” Edmonton’s Wayne Gretzky said.

The Oilers had won six straight.

Vanbiesbrouck had 34 saves, many of them acrobatic. “Vanbiesbrouck played a great game and made some great saves,” said Edmonton Coach Glen Sather. “Actually, we played reasonably well. We had nothing going into this game but our self-respect.”

The Oilers clinched the regular-season total point title earlier in the week.

Larouche scored his 19th and 20th goals in just his 23rd game since being recalled from the minors.

The victory lifted the Rangers into fourth place in the Patrick Division playoff race. They moved one point ahead of idle Pittsburgh.

New York Islanders 4, Washington 3--Mike Bossy notched his 57th and 58th goals as the Islanders won at Landover, Md., on a bad night for the Capitals. Just 19 seconds into the game, Washington’s Bengt Gustafsson suffered a broken leg, this just hours after teammate Mike Gartner underwent arthroscopic knee surgery.

Gustafsson, the team leader in assists, suffered a broken tibia in his right leg after colliding with New York’s Denis Potvin. Gartner, Washington’s No. 2 goal-scorer, is expected back in about two weeks, but Gustafsson will be sidelined for the remainder of the season, including the playoffs.

Calgary 6, Winnipeg 3--Hakan Loob and Joel Otto each scored two goals to lead the Flames at Calgary.

The Flames, who scored four power-play goals, took a 2-0 lead on first-period goals 66 seconds apart while Winnipeg defenseman Mario Marois was serving a match penalty. Marois was cited for head butting Calgary defenseman Neil Sheehy.