NHL Roundup : Dionne’s Goal Ties His Boss for No. 2 on All-Time List

When Jack Kent Cooke, then owner of the Kings, obtained Detroit star Marcel Dionne before the 1975 season, he said he had just acquired the best hockey player in the world.

It was by no means the first time Cooke was accused of exaggeration. As the years go by, Dionne has made Cooke seem pretty close to an expert. Dionne may never have been the greatest player in the world, but on the other hand, he hasn’t been far away.

The 37-year-old center reached another milestone in his colorful 17-year National Hockey League career Sunday at New York.

Dionne scored his 717th goal in the first period to help the New York Rangers beat the Pittsburgh Penguins, 6-3, and move into a tie for second place on the all-time goal-scoring list.

Ironically, Dionne tied Phil Esposito, for the No. 2 spot behind Gordie Howe, who had 801. Esposito, general manager of the Rangers, acquired Dionne from the Kings late last season.

It was Dionne’s 24th goal this season in 42 games. He has 25 more games in which to get another goal and take second all alone.

Said Esposito: “I’m really happy for him. Hopefully, he’ll get 802. That’s why I brought him here.”

In his brilliant career Dionne has won almost every laurel--except a Stanley Cup. It isn’t likely he’s going to get one in his 17th NHL season, either. In fact, the Rangers are having trouble just getting to the playoffs. They are in last place in the Patrick Division, three points out of fourth, the final playoff spot.

Lemieux assisted on the first Penguin goal to increase his scoring lead over Gretzky to 15 points.

Boston 6, New Jersey 3--A couple of weeks ago, Coach Terry O’Reilly set a goal for his Bruins to reach first place by the All-Star break.

The Bruins, playing their third game in four days, scored four times in the first period at Boston and then held off the Devils to take a two-point lead over Montreal in the Adams Division.

“I thought we were a tired team, but that fast start saved us,” O’Reilly said. “Nobody can get us out of first for a few days. We need the time off, so the All-Star game came at the right time.”

One of the goals in the early Boston outburst was a 90-foot shot by Reed Larson that caromed off goaltender Alain Chevrier’s glove into the net.

Chicago 5, Quebec 5--It was only defenseman Bob Murray’s fourth goal of the season, but it came with 2:12 left in regulation at Quebec and earned a tie for the Blackhawks.

The Blackhawks are winless (0-4-2) in their last six games. They almost lost this one, but Peter Stastny’s overtime goal was disallowed because the net had become dislodged.

Hartford 4, Toronto 2--Prior to this game at Hartford, the Whalers replaced Coach Jack Evans with Larry Pleau, and the Maple Leafs fired General Manager George McNamara.

The shakeup may have helped the Whalers, but it didn’t change anything for the Maple Leafs.

The Maple Leafs, who have won only once in the last 22 games, had a 2-1 lead seven minutes into the final period. But Ron Francis tied the score and Carey Wilson broke the tie with six minutes left. A minute later, Wilson scored again to put the game out of reach.