NHL Roundup : Gretzky Shows Jet Fans How All-Stars Play, 5-3

Wayne Gretzky, slighted by the fans around the National Hockey League when they voted for Mario Lemieux as the All-Star center, doesn’t seem too concerned.

He is letting everyone know that he’s the best player in the game.

Gretzky put on a show for Winnipeg fans Wednesday night. In a dazzling performance, Gretzky scored twice and assisted on another goal to lead the Edmonton Oilers to a 5-3 victory over the Jets.

Going into the game, the Jets had won seven in a row and trailed the Oilers by only six points in the Smythe Division pennant race.

The Jets had ideas of making a race of it. At least temporarily, Gretzky messed up those plans.

Gretzky, on his way to an unprecedented eighth consecutive scoring title, now has 45 goals, 69 assists and 114 points in 47 games. He is shooting for his fourth consecutive season of 200 or more points. No other player has ever come close to that mark.

The Jets jumped to an early lead on a goal by Gilles Hamel, but Gretzky went in on a breakaway at 6:24 of the first period to tie it.

Gretzky’s perfect pass enabled Mike Krushelnyski to score a short-handed goal late in the second period, then completed the scoring in the third period with his second goal of the game.

“I know there are some fans around the league who don’t like the way I play,” Gretzky said. “But I have two Stanley Cups and a few records and I’m going to continue to do the best I can.”

Chicago 5, Philadelphia 5--In a shootout at Chicago, Troy Murray scored with 63 seconds left in regulation to get the Blackhawks a tie.

Twice the Blackhawks had to fight back from a two-goal deficit against the stingiest defense in the league. The Flyers, who jumped off to a 2-0 lead in the first period, before falling behind, 3-2, scored three times in the second to take a 5-3 lead.

Wayne Presley scored at 4:17 of the final period to make it close again, but it appeared that goalie Ron Hextall, who faced 49 shots during the game, had weathered the rally. Then Murray took a pass from Al Secord and beat Hextall for his 17th goal.

Hartford 3, Montreal 1--The Whalers believe they have one solid edge in the battle for supremacy in the Adams Division--goaltender Mike Liut.

Liut was at the top of his game at Hartford, stopping 25 shots to enable the Whalers to beat the Canadiens for the second time in three nights.

The Whalers, who have played three fewer games, trail the Canadiens by only a point.

Liut lost his shutout when Mats Naslund scored with less than five minutes remaining.

The Whalers’ first goal was by Ron Francis, who beat the Canadiens Monday night with an overtime goal.

Detroit 8, New York Islanders 5--Recently acquired Brent Ashton had two goals and two assists in a six-goal second period at Detroit that carried the Red Wings to their third win in a row.

The Red Wings (19-20-8) moved within one point of Minnesota, the leader in the tight Norris Division race.

Ashton was acquired as part of a six-player swap with Quebec Saturday.

Toronto 4, St. Louis 2--Steve Thomas scored two goals, and goalie Allan Bester made 33 saves at Toronto to lead the Maple Leafs.

Thomas’ second goal proved to be the winner. It came at 12:11 of the third period and was a 50-foot blast that gave Toronto a 3-1 lead.

In the Norris Division, Minnesota has 47 points, Detroit 46, Toronto 43, Chicago 41 and St. Louis 40.

Vancouver 5, New York Rangers 3--Barry Pederson scored two goals as the Canucks beat the Rangers. It was the third victory in four games for Vancouver.

Pederson’s second goal early in the second period made it 4-1 and came after Ranger goaltender Bob Froese and defenseman Larry Melnyk badly misplayed a clearing effort, allowing Pederson to tap his 15th goal of the season into an empty net.