NHL Roundup : Tiger Comes Out Fighting, but Whalers Lose

Dave (Tiger) Williams, the National Hockey League’s all-time penalty leader, didn’t waste much time in getting into his first fight as a Hartford Whaler Friday night during his team’s 6-2 loss to the Washington Capitals at Landover, Md.

Williams, picked up on waivers Thursday after being released by the Kings earlier in the week, jumped into the midst of a brawl with 5:44 left in the first period and was assessed 5 minutes for fighting and a game misconduct in his Whaler debut.

The brawl broke out when Washington’s Ed Kastelic jumped into a fight between his teammate Lou Franceschetti and Hartford’s Shane Churla. All eight players on the ice were assessed penalties, with Kastelic receiving 2 minutes for roughing, 5 minutes for fighting and a double game misconduct.

A total of 135 penalty minutes were handed out.

Washington Coach Bryan Murray said that officials seem to be cracking down. “It should clean up the game,” he said, “and speed it up, if it continues like this.”

Bengt Gustafsson scored two goals and assisted on another as the Capitals handed the Whalers their fifth loss in as many games.

The Hartford goalie was Peter Sidoriewicz, who was playing in his first NHL game. He was called up from Binghamton of the American Hockey League to fill in for Mike Liut, who is suffering from spasms in his lower back.

Buffalo 2, Quebec 2--The Sabres, the NHL’s worst team last season, are 1-2-2 after tying the Nordiques at Buffalo.

The Sabres are in third place in the Adams Division, ahead of Montreal.

The Sabres took a 2-1 lead early in the third period on a goal by Clark Gillies. But Quebec tied it on a goal by Peter Stastny, his second goal of the game. The two goals gave Stastny 800 career points.

Edmonton 5, Calgary 2--Glenn Anderson scored three goals, two in the second period, as the Oilers won at Calgary. Oiler goalie Grant Fuhr had 35 saves.

Detroit 3, Toronto 2--Bob Probert’s goal at 18:28 of the third period broke a tie and led the Red Wings to victory at Detroit.

The crowd of 19,869 was Detroit’s second-largest opening night since moving to Joe Louis Arena in 1979.

New Jersey 4, Montreal 3--Claude Loiselle scored on a slap shot from the slot at 9:09 of the third period to give the Devils a win at East Rutherford, N.J.

George McPhee scored two goals for the Devils.