NHL Roundup : Pittsburgh Stops Calgary’s Unbeaten Streak

Randy Cunneyworth and Jock Callander each scored twice and Mario Lemieux had a goal and three assists as the Pittsburgh Penguins ended Calgary’s nine-game unbeaten streak with a 5-2 victory Wednesday night at Pittsburgh.

In addition to handing the Flames their first loss since Nov. 17--they were 7-0-2 in that span--the result continued a very good run for Pittsburgh. The Penguins have lost just once in their last six games, going 4-1-1.

Lemieux, a center, and Cunneyworth and Callander, both wings, accounted for all of the Pittsburgh scoring.

The Flames scored both their goals in the second period, by Jim Peplinski and Mike Bullard. A slap shot from the blue line was the 17th goal for Bullard and his 11th point in eight games.

Cunneyworth also had two assists, and Callander added one. Defenseman Paul Coffey had three assists for the third time in six games since being traded to Pittsburgh from Edmonton.

Callander has been a surprise for the Penguins. A career minor leaguer, he moved up to right wing on Lemieux’s line when Craig Simpson was traded to Edmonton in the Coffey deal.

Buffalo 6, Chicago 2--The Blackhawks, returning home after losing six straight on the road, found no comfort in Chicago, where they had won five straight and not lost in nine games going in.

Christian Ruutuu scored two goals and added two assists to lead the Sabres, who broke the game open with a five-goal second period. It was only the second win in eight games for Buffalo.

The seven-game skid is the longest losing streak for Chicago since Jan. 13-25, 1982.

Adam Creighton capped the Sabres’ second-period run with a goal at 18:57, prompting Chicago fans to shower the ice with thousands of souvenir postcards that were given out before the game. The teams were sent to their locker rooms early and the remaining 1:03 was added to the third period.

New York Rangers 2, Montreal 2--Mike McPhee scored 2:19 into the third period to give the Canadiens the tie at New York.

That extended Montreal’s unbeaten streak to six (4-0-2), but also continued the Canadiens’ frustration in overtime. Despite having the best record in the league, they have not won an overtime game in eight tries this season (0-1-7).

New York took a 1-0 lead in the first period on Marcel Dionne’s league-leading 13th power-play goal. The Ranger center connected from the lower left circle for his 18th goal of the season.

Montreal lost two of its leading scorers during the game, when defenseman Chris Chelios and right wing Claude Lemieux were injured.

Lemieux was carried off the ice on a stretcher in the second period after being checked into the sideboards by Jari Gronstrand. Coach Jean Perron said Lemieux suffered a concussion and would remain in a hospital overnight. Chelios suffered a broken finger on his left hand in the first period.

Hartford 5, Washington 4--Kevin Dineen scored his second goal of the game midway through the third period at Hartford, Conn., to lift the Whalers to their third straight win.

The Capitals, who overcame a 3-1 deficit, pulled goalie Alain Raymond with 49 seconds left, but could not get the equalizer.

Edmonton 2, Winnipeg 0--Wayne Gretzky assisted on Glenn Anderson’s second-period goal to tie Phil Esposito for third place on the all-time scoring list with 1,590 points, highlighting the Oilers’ win at Edmonton.

While Gretzky reached an offensive milestone, goalie Grant Fuhr recorded a minor, personal record of his own. In stopping 28 shots, Fuhr picked up his second shutout of the season, the first time he has done that. It was his fourth career shutout.

Detroit 4, St. Louis 4--Mark Hunter scored an unassisted goal with 8:43 remaining in regulation to help the Blues rally from a two-goal, third-period deficit for the tie at Detroit.