NHL Roundup : Lemieux Spree Helps Penguins End Slump, 8-3

Mario Lemieux had a hat trick in the first period Friday night at Pittsburgh, added a goal and two assists later and brought the Penguins out of their slump with an 8-3 victory over Toronto.

With the big center scoring only two goals, the Penguins had gone 1-4-2 in their previous seven games.

It took him just 13:42 to get three against the Maple Leafs. He scored on a power play at 5:01 and made it 2-0 at 9:35. After Keith Courtnall put the Leafs on the board with the first of his two goals, Lemieux registered the third hat trick of his career.

The Penguins scored on 6 of 16 shots against young Ken Wregget, who was replaced by Alan Bestor before the middle of the second period. The Maple Leafs have lost five of their last six games.

Despite their recent problems, the Penguins are in second place in the Patrick Division with a 15-10-4 record. Last season, when the Penguins just missed reaching the playoffs, they didn’t get their 15th win until the 36th game.

Edmonton 6, Winnipeg 1--Wayne Gretzky has moved the Oilers into high gear. In this game at Edmonton, Glenn Anderson scored twice, and Gretzky had three assists as the Oilers moved six points in front in the Smythe Division.

Dale Hawerchuk put the Jets in front in the first minute, but after Gretzky set up Mark Napier for a short-handed goal late in the period, the Oilers took control.