NHL Roundup : Jarvis Irons Out a Record--915th Game in Row

Doug Jarvis has always gone about his business quietly. Although he has been the best defensive center in the National Hockey League for the last decade, he is not what you would call a famous athlete.

Jarvis, 31, received a standing ovation Friday night at Hartford, Conn., when he set a record by playing in his 915th consecutive game. Fittingly, it was against the Montreal Canadiens, a team he helped win four Stanley Cups in the ‘70s.

After taking the opening faceoff, Jarvis, who broke Garry Unger’s record, keyed a tough Whaler defense that was only 86 seconds from shutting out the Canadiens. Kjell Dahlin scored to get the Canadiens a 1-1 tie after goaltender Mike Liut stopped the first 22 shots and just missed protecting a 1-0 victory.

The tie enabled the Whalers to retain first place in the Adams Division by one point over the Canadiens, the defending NHL champions.

The drive into prominence by the Whalers coincided with the acquisition of Jarvis from the Washington Capitals one-third of the way into last season. The 5-foot 9-inch Jarvis had helped the Capitals gain recognition before joining the Whalers.

In an age where scoring is the vogue in hockey, Jarvis is a throwback to the old days. He scored 20 goals only once in his 11 previous seasons and never had more than 48 points.

Besides almost never missing a shift, Jarvis has made life miserable defensively for the top scorers. Invariably, he gives Wayne Gretzky a tough night. He has spent many nights hounding the Kings’ offensive great, Marcel Dionne.

Most of the better-known defensive players gain fame by throwing their weight around, but Jarvis picks his opponent clean. The most penalty minutes he has had in a season is only 34.

Until the recognition came recently, Jarvis wasn’t aware he was approaching a record for ironmen.

“It’s just been the last two weeks that I’ve become conscious of what I was approaching. I guess it is quite a feat,” Jarvis told the Associated Press. “I’d like to keep going, one game at a time.”

Unger starred for St. Louis and the Atlanta Flames. His string ended in December, 1980, when, after making only token appearances in several games, he was finally benched because of a shoulder injury.

“The next guy who could even think of tying him would do it in 1994,” Whaler captain Ron Francis said. “He is something special. He never gave in to an injury, the flu, some ailment that knocks you down in the wintertime. It’s not like he’s accomplished this feat cheaply. He’s played hard every game and hasn’t gone out there merely to play one shift to keep a streak alive. He’s there battling at the finish of every close game.”

Detroit 4, Toronto 2--Left wing Bob Probert rejoined the Red Wings for this game at Detroit and scored a goal and had an apparent second goal disallowed.

Probert, arrested on a drunk driving charge four days ago, was reinstated by Coach Jacques Demers earlier in the day.

“He said he regretted what he did,” Demers said. “He offered to donate some food to a needy family. He’s a kid who needs some help, and we’re going to get him the best counseling. If it ever happens again, he won’t play for the Red Wings.”

Probert, 21, is on probation after conviction for assaulting an officer. Terms of the probation included abstention from alcohol.

New York Rangers 7, New Jersey 4--Kelly Kisio had the first hat trick of his career in the first period at East Rutherford, N.J., to get the Rangers off to a fast start.

Kisio triggered a four-goal first period by scoring 38 seconds after the opening faceoff.

For the Rangers, it completed a home-and-home sweep this week from the Devils and put them just two points behind New Jersey in the battle for fourth place in the Patrick Division.

Washington 2, New York Islanders 1--Goalie Bob Mason stopped 29 shots, including a third-period penalty shot by Brent Sutter at Landover, Md.

Dave Christian scored the game-winner early in the second period, and when Mason went down low to block Sutter’s unmolested shot, the Capitals ended a two-game losing streak to the Islanders.

Minnesota 4, Winnipeg 2--Craig Hartsburg had a goal and an assist in the third period at Bloomington, Minn., to put the North Stars into first place in the Norris Division.

High-scoring Dino Ciccarelli scored his 31st goal for the North Stars.

Chicago 8, St. Louis 6--There were 84 shots in this high-scoring battle at Chicago, and the Blackhawks, with 44 of them, prevailed despite three goals by Rick Meagher.

Bill Watson and Denis Savard each scored twice as the Blackhawks extended the Blues’ winless streak to seven games (0-5-2).

The Blackhawks took the lead for good, 2-1, late in the first period on a 50-foot shot by Bob Murray.

Buffalo 3, Pittsburgh 3--Dave Andreychuk scored with just 70 seconds remaining in regulation at Buffalo to get the Sabres the tie. Under new Coach Ted Sator, the Sabres are 1-0-1.

Since their best player, Mario Lemieux, went out with an injury, the Penguins are 0-1-2, but all three games have gone into overtime.