NHL Roundup : Hextall Can’t Stop Skid, and Flyers Lose Again

In the hopes it would straighten out their disappointing team, the Philadelphia Flyers gave All-Star goalie Ron Hextall a new multi-year contract.

It didn’t change a thing Wednesday night at East Rutherford, N.J., where the surprising New Jersey Devils scored two power-play goals in the last period to beat the Flyers, 4-3.

The Flyers, who have won only twice in the last 14 games, had a 3-2 lead going into the third period. Claude Loiselle scored at 5:12 with the Flyers a man short. Then, with just under three minutes remaining, Pat Verbeek rammed the puck between Hextall’s pads for the winning goal. It gave the Devils an 9-1-1 start at home and moved them within three points of first place in the Patrick Division.

The Flyers are in last place with a 5-12-3 record, the worst in the NHL. A year ago, after 20 games, or one-fourth of the regular season, the Flyers were 14-4-2, the best record in the NHL. After 18 games, the Devils, now 11-5-2, were 9-7-2.

Hextall, since returning from an eight-game suspension, is 2-8-2 and has a goals-against record of almost four.

While it is a miserable start for the Flyers, it is the best ever for the Devils. Last season was the best, but already, the Devils are doing better.

“In the past,” said center Kirk Muller, who set up Verbeek for his 15th goal, “we were a victim of our own youth. But now there is a maturity that wasn’t here before. We have learned something playing together the last two seasons.

“We also have developed a more positive attitude. We believe we can win.”

Boston 4, Winnipeg 3--Steve Kasper, long known as an outstanding defensive forward, is becoming something of an offensive star for the Bruins.

After getting two goals and two assists Tuesday night at Calgary in a 6-3 win, Kasper came right back at Winnipeg to score the winning goal with just 2:05 remaining in regulation.

Kasper, who had 20 goals last season, has 7 in just one-fourth of a season. His power-play goal extended the Bruins’ unbeaten streak to five games.

Kasper is best known for the outstanding job he does defending against the incomparable scoring machine, Wayne Gretzky.

The Jets lost goalie Pokey Reddick early in the third period when a shot by Geoff Courtnall hit him in the mask, and he had to leave the game. Courtnall had two goals in the game and two assists.

Montreal 5, New York Islanders 2--Stephane Richer and Claude Lemieux each scored twice at Montreal, and veteran defenseman Larry Robinson returned as the Canadiens ended the Islanders’ five-game winning streak.

Robinson played in his first game since suffering a broken leg in a polo accident last August. He missed the first 21 games.

Although he didn’t score a point, Robinson seemed to inspire the Canadiens.

“When people said it would be the end of my career, I had to prove them wrong,” Robinson said.

Hartford 9, Buffalo 1--Center Ron Francis had a hat trick in less than 34 minutes at Hartford, and the Whalers rolled to their easiest victory of the season.

It was the sixth time Francis has scored at least three goals in a game. His hot hand woke up an offense that had produced only 46 goals in 17 games. It was the lowest output in the league.

The offensive display made it easy for Mike Liut, who has struggled because of a lack of goals. He stopped 22 shots and had a 7-0 lead before losing his shutout late in the second period.

St. Louis 6, Toronto 3--Doug Gilmour scored a goal and set up two by Mark Hunter at Toronto as the Blues knocked the Maple Leafs out of first place in the Norris Division.

Chicago 5, Minnesota 2--Rick Vaive scored three times and his tie-breaker at 6:29 of the last period at Chicago gave the Blackhawks sole possession of first place in the Norris Division.

The North Stars didn’t have a shot on goal in the last period for the first 13:26.

Edmonton 4, Quebec 1--Defensemen Steve Smith and Kevin Lowe scored second-period goals to lead the Oilers to their sixth win in a row at home.