NHL Roundup : Two Hot Goaltenders Enable Flames to Get Back on Right Track

In the middle of January, the Calgary Flames’ defense yielded 26 goals in four games.

Until the defense collapsed, the Flames had the third-best record in the National Hockey League and were challenging the powerful Edmonton Oilers for the Smythe Division lead.

Before turning it around, the Flames had fallen into third place, 16 points behind the Oilers.

The slump ended when Flame Coach Bob Johnson began alternating goaltenders Mike Vernon and Rejean Lemelin. Until the slump, Vernon, a sensation last spring when the Flames knocked the Oilers out of the playoffs, had been playing about four games to every one for Lemelin.

Alternating was a stroke of genius. Both goaltenders are getting stingy, and the Flames are winning.

It was Vernon’s turn in the net Tuesday night at Pittsburgh, and he stopped 28 shots to lead the Flames to a 3-1 victory over the Penguins.

The Flames have now won five in a row, the last four on the road. The Flames have climbed into a tie with the Winnipeg Jets for second place, 11 points behind the Oilers.

In the five victories, the Flames have given up only six goals. On Monday night, Lemelin shut out the Flyers as the Flames won for the first time ever at Philadelphia.

Tuesday night, the Penguins played without Mario Lemieux, who was out with bronchitis.

Lemieux missed 13 games earlier this season because of a knee injury. Without Lemieux, the Penguins are 2-8-4.

“It’s like playing the Islanders and finding out that Mike Bossy is out,” Vernon said. “It’s a big advantage to have a Mario Lemieux unable to play against you.”

The Flames had only 20 shots on goal. With seven in the first period, they took a 2-0 lead when Mike Bullard, a former Penguin, scored on a power play and Tim Hunter late in the period drove a long shot past goalie Pat Riggin.

The Penguins, fighting for a playoff spot, continued to be frustrated on power-play opportunities. They failed on four tries against Vernon and are 0 for their last 22 attempts when they have had a manpower advantage.

Vernon lost his shutout when Willi Lindstrom converted a pass in front from John Chabot.

Hartford 5, Chicago 4--All nine goals were scored in the first two periods at Chicago before the shooters gave way to tight defensive play.

To his surprise, winger Dave Tippett’s seventh goal of the season with just 40 seconds left in the second period turned out to be the score that put the Whalers into first place in the Adams Division.

The Whalers, who fired 30 shots at goalie Bob Sauve in the first 40 minutes, shot only four times in the last 20 minutes.

But goalie Mike Liut stopped all 14 Blackhawk shots in the final period to preserve the one-goal margin.

The Blackhawks, who fired 38 shots at Liut, missed a chance to climb out of the cellar in the Norris Division. Despite the loss, the Blackhawks remained only six points out of first place.

New York Rangers 6, Detroit 2--Although they are far behind the Patrick Division-leading Flyers, the Rangers, 6-1-0 in their last seven games, have moved into second place.

Don Maloney and Walt Poddubny each scored twice, and John Vanbiesbrouck was sensational in the nets for the Rangers. He stopped 42 shots, including a penalty shot by Petr Klima in the second period. Klima skated in, tried a backhander from close range, but Vanbiesbrouck blocked it.

Former Ranger goalie Glen Hanlon, in his first start against his former mates, was removed after giving up five goals on 24 shots.

Philadelphia 3, New York Islanders 2--In a game between two injury-riddled teams at Uniondale, N.Y., the Flyers, behind defenseman J.J. Daigneault’s fourth goal of the season midway through the second period, won for only the second time in the last seven games.

The Flyers are missing five regulars, including star defenseman Mark Howe. The Islanders are without four players. Although Mike Bossy is playing, he is hampered by a severe groin injury.

Vancouver 4, St. Louis 3--Tony Tanti scored with 4:34 left at St. Louis to break a 3-3 tie and give the Canucks the victory. It was the 26th goal for Tanti.

It was the first victory for the Canucks in St. Louis since Dec. 11, 1982. The Blues have lost four straight.

Quebec 3, Winnipeg 3--The Jets spotted the Nordiques a 3-0 lead at Quebec, then stormed back to earn a tie.

Gilles Hamel, Doug Smail and Dale Hawerchuk scored for the Jets. Hawerchuk’s 36th goal tied the score with 5:36 left in the second period.

The game marked the return of Nordique star Dale Hunter, who broke a leg in a game against Montreal last November.