NHL Roundup : Whalers’ Turgeon Regaining Top Form at the Right Time

Sylvain Turgeon is regaining his top form at just the right time for the Hartford Whalers.

The 22-year-old left wing scored the tie-breaking goal with four minutes left at Boston Thursday night and assisted on another two minutes later and the Whalers scored a 6-3 victory over the Bruins.

It was only the 12th game this season for Turgeon, who underwent surgery to correct a perplexing abdominal problem and missed the first 39 games.

Although he scored 45 goals for the Whalers last season, his stomach ailment bothered him late in the season and knocked him out of the seventh playoff game with Montreal last spring.

The pain persisted in training camp and he underwent surgery in November. He is slowly rounding into shape.

“I have to take shorter shifts,” he said after scoring his fifth goal of the season. “My legs are still not back to normal. It’s not too bad, though. Three months ago it was too painful to skate.”

The victory put the Whalers into first place in the Adams Division, a point ahead of Montreal.

Philadelphia 5, Pittsburgh 3--The Penguins shouldn’t bother to show up at the Spectrum. Murray Cravens scored twice and had an assist as the Penguins lost their 23rd straight in Philadelphia.

The Penguins have not won at the Spectrum since Jan. 20, 1974, a total of 35 games.

The Flyers had eight players out with injuries.

St. Louis 4, Toronto 2--Jocelyn Lemieux and Mark Hunter scored second-period goals at St. Louis to lead the Blues to their third victory in a row.

The Blues moved to within two points of second-place Detroit in the tight Norris Division race. The Maple Leafs have lost nine of their last 11.

Calgary 3, Minnesota 3--Paul Reinhart drilled a 20-footer past goalie Kari Takko with 2:44 left in regulation at Calgary to get the Flames a tie.

The Flames have not beaten the North Stars in the last six games. The last time they beat the Stars was Dec. 1, 1984.