NHL Roundup : Sandstrom Is Back--His 3 Goals Help Rangers Beat Islanders, 7-5

Tomas Sandstrom returned just in time to give the New York Rangers’ playoff hopes a big lift.

The high-scoring right wing suffered a chipped bone in his right ankle in the Rendez-Vous 87 series with the Soviets and missed nine games.

He returned Wednesday night to score three goals at New York and lead the Rangers to a hard-fought 7-5 victory over the New York Islanders.

The Rangers are only two points behind the third-place Islanders in the Patrick Division. Better yet, from a playoff standpoint, the Rangers moved five points ahead of Pittsburgh.

It was the usual rough game between the two Big Apple rivals. Six fights broke out in the bitter battle.

Sandstrom scored his first goal in the second period as the Rangers took a 4-2 lead. In the last period, when the Islanders threatened to catch up, Sandstrom scored his 32nd and 33rd goals.

Walt Poddubny helped key the unusually strong Ranger offense with three assists. Pat LaFontaine had two goals and an assist for the Islanders.

Chicago 3, Winnipeg 2--Denis Savard scored twice at Chicago to pass the 30-goal plateau for the sixth consecutive season and keep the Blackhawks’ unbeaten string going.

The Blackhawks haven’t lost in their last seven games and have taken sole possession of third place in the Norris Division.

Goaltender Murray Bannerman stopped 35 shots to post his third win in five days since No. 1 goalie Bob Sauve injured his back. Bannerman is unbeaten in his last four games, giving up only seven goals.

Edmonton 8, Vancouver 5--Wayne Gretzky had a goal and two assists at Vancouver, Canada, as eight Oilers shared in the goal-scoring that ended a four-game losing streak.

The Oilers wound up a 13-day trip with their only victory in five starts on goals by Esa Tikkanen, Mark Messier, Craig MacTavish, Paul Coffey, Jaroslav Pouzar, Jari Kurri, Gretzky and Glenn Anderson.