NHL Roundup : Islanders Beat the North Stars, 4-2

Paul Flatley knocked in a rebound with less than seven minutes remaining at Uniondale, N.Y., Tuesday night to score the tie-breaking goal in the New York Islanders’ 4-2 victory over the Minnesota North Stars.

Dino Ciccarelli’s league-leading 29th goal had pulled the North Stars even, 2-2, late in the second period.

Goaltender Don Beaupre stopped Mikko Makela’s shot with his pads, but Flatley pounced on the rebound and put a backhand shot into the net for his 10th goal. In the closing seconds, Brent Sutter scored his second goal of the game into an empty net.

“We were determined tonight,” Flatley said. “We have been playing poorly against teams in other divisions here at home. Last week we were drubbed by Hartford and Los Angeles, and the fans were on us pretty good.

“We finally showed our ability against a team outside our division.”

Billy Smith, in the nets for the Islanders, stopped 31 shots. Beaupre stopped 26.

Despite the loss, the North Stars remained tied with St. Louis for first place in the Norris Division.

Montreal 4, St. Louis 2--Mike McPhee scored the first goal and assisted on the second at St. Louis to help the Canadiens pull into a tie with Boston for first place in the Adams Division.

Greg Paslawski gave the Blues an early lead when he scored a fluke goal. He made a centering pass from behind the net, the puck deflected off the skate of Montreal defenseman Petr Svoboda and into the net.

Thereafter, the Canadiens dominated play. Only stellar play by former Canadien goaltender Rick Wamsley prevented them from building up a bigger margin.

Veteran forward Bob Gainey got his first goal of the season, into an empty net for Montreal’s last score.

Calgary 8, Detroit 3--Hakan Loob scored twice, and defenseman Al MacInnis had a goal and four assists at Calgary as the Flames roared from behind.

The Red Wings jumped to a 3-0 lead before the middle of the first period, but the Flames scored eight consecutive goals to snap Detroit’s four-game unbeaten string.

Bob Probert scored on Detroit’s first shot on goal, and Gerard Gallant and Shawn Burr scored 48 seconds apart a little later to make it 3-0.