NHL Roundup : Goulet Scores 3 Goals as Nordiques Rout Sabres

The past week, the trade winds have been circulating in Quebec about Nordique left wing Michel Goulet.

But Friday night, Goulet scored three goals as Quebec defeated the Buffalo Sabres, 6-1, at Buffalo.

“Rumors are part of the game, especially in Quebec,” Nordique Coach Michel Bergeron said. “The players know that. There is no problem with me. I think we’re better under pressure. I love pressure. I think it’s better for the club.”

Mark Hunter, who had two goals for Quebec, opened the scoring 14:51 into the first period, batting in a rebound from directly in front of Buffalo goaltender Jacques Cloutier.

In the second period, Paul Gillis gave the Nordiques a 2-0 lead when Mike Eagles knocked Buffalo defenseman Mike Ramsey off the puck in the corner, and the puck went directly to Gillis.

Paul Cyr got Buffalo back into the game briefly, blasting a 35-footer through the legs of Quebec goaltender Clint Malarchuk. But Goulet scored from the slot on a power play to make it 3-1.

Hartford 4, St. Louis 0--Goaltender Mike Liut, who was traded to the Whalers by St. Louis, shut out his former teammates at Hartford.

Liut stopped 22 shots to post his 14th career shutout. It was the fourth shutout for Liut since he was acquired by Hartford two seasons ago for goalie Greg Millen and center Mark Johnson.

Hartford used power-play goals by Stewart Gavin and Kevin Dineen to support Liut. Doug Jarvis and Mike Millar also scored for the Whalers, who stopped a five-game unbeaten streak by the Blues.

New York Rangers 8, Vancouver 5--Tony McKegney scored four goals as the Rangers rallied from a 4-0 deficit to win at Vancouver in Phil Esposito’s first game as coach.

Esposito, the Rangers’ General Manager, fired Coach Ted Sator and replaced him on an interim basis earlier Friday.

Mike Ridley, whose goal at 2:01 of the third period tied the score at 5-5, set up McKegney for the go-ahead score at 11:41.

Pierre Larouche scored again 12 seconds later to make it 7-5, and Ron Greschner faked goalie Wendell Young to the ice and scored at 14:23.

Washington 3, Detroit 3--Gerard Gallant and John Ogrodnick scored third-period goals 2:46 apart to lift the Red Wings into a tie at Detroit as both teams had winless streaks extended.

The tie increased Detroit’s streak to five games, while Washington is winless in its last six.