NHL Roundup : As Usual, Nordiques Don’t Stop Gretzky

Nobody likes to see Wayne Gretzky coming, especially the Quebec Nordiques.

Gretzky had his 42nd goal of the season and an assist Thursday night to lead the Edmonton Oilers to a 4-1 victory at Quebec.

In three games against Quebec this season, Gretzky has 5 of his team’s 14 goals and also has 7 assists.

The victory was the fourth in a row for the Oilers and gave them a nine-point lead over second-place Calgary in the Smythe Division.

Philadelphia 6, Montreal 3--Rick Tocchet snapped a 3-3 tie at 7:59 of the third period in the Flyers’ win over the Canadiens at Philadelphia.

Tocchet gave the Flyers their first lead of the game when he put a third rebound attempt past Montreal goalie Patrick Roy. Derrick Smith scored at 16:32, and Peter Zezel added a goal at 17:53.

The Flyers, who overcame deficits of 2-0 and 3-2, tied the game at 3-3 at 10:33 of the second period when rookie Brian Dobbin scored his first National Hockey League goal.

Toronto 3, Detroit 1--Allan Bester turned aside 37 shots, and rookie Vincent Damphousse scored two goals at Detroit as the Maple Leafs broke a four-game losing streak and moved into second place in the Norris Division, two points behind Minnesota.

Detroit lost its fourth straight and remained tied with Chicago for third place in the division, three points behind the North Stars.

Bester surrendered only Bob Probert’s second-period rebound goal as he helped Toronto run its record against Detriot to 5-1-1. Bester has been in goal for each of the games.

Washington 3, New York Islanders 2--Gaetan Duchesne’s second goal of the game, with 6:52 left, lifted the Capitals to a victory over the Islanders at Uniondale, N.Y.

The Islanders, the No. 1 power-play team in the NHL, scored with a man advantage on a goal by Brent Sutter with three minutes gone in the second period for a 2-2 tie. Sutter deflected in a shot from the blue line by Tomas Jonsson.

The Capitals had a 2-1 lead after one period on goals by Mike Ridley and Duchesne. Alan Kerr had New York’s other goal.

Boston 6, Hartford 4--Defenseman Reed Larson scored the 200th and 201st goals of his NHL career, both coming on power plays, as the Bruins turned back the Whalers at Boston.

Tom McCarthy scored his 19th goal and had two assists for Boston, while Ray Bourque had his 13th goal and had an assist as the Bruins avenged a 3-1 loss at Hartford on Wednesday night.

Boston’s Rick Middleton got his 500th NHL assist.