NHL Roundup : Capitals Continue Their Mastery Over the Devils, 5-3

For the New Jersey Devils, beating the Washington Capitals on their home ice appears to have become the stuff of which fantasies are made.

Washington notched its 19th straight home victory over the Devils since the franchise moved to New Jersey. The 5-3 victory Tuesday night at Landover, Md., also was Washington’s eighth victory in nine games since the All-Star break.

Bob Gould’s goals at 3:08 and 3:34 of the second period broke what had been a scoreless tie. Goals by Mike Gartner, who got his 40th of the season, and Peter Sundstrom in the second period gave Washington a 4-2 lead.

Detroit 4, Buffalo 0--Steve Yzerman scored his 50th goal before leaving the game with what may be a season-ending knee injury, and Glen Hanlon made 19 saves as the Red Wings beat the Sabres at Detroit to snap a four-game losing streak.

Yzerman, who leads Detroit with 50 goals and 52 assists, was injured with 1:59 remaining in the second period when he slid into the goal post while trying to skate around Sabre defenseman Calle Johansson.

Yzerman lay on the ice for several minutes before being helped from the playing surface. The Red Wings said later the 22-year-old center suffered a torn ligament in his right knee. It was not immediately known whether the injury would require surgery.

Winnipeg 6, Hartford 2--Mark Kumpel scored eight seconds into the third period, and Thomas Steen and Fredrik Olausson each had two assists as the Jets beat the Whalers at Winnipeg.

Winnipeg’s other goals came from Paul MacLean, Peter Taglianetti, Randy Gilhen, Iain Duncan, and Laurie Boschman. The Whalers, who have lost three straight, got goals from Dave Tippett, Sylvain Cote and Carey Wilson.

New York Islanders 2, St. Louis 0--Defensemen Denis Potvin and Tomas Jonsson scored third-period goals, and veteran goalie Billy Smith recorded his 21st career shutout by stopping 30 shots as the Islanders defeated the Blues at Uniondale, N.Y.

The Islanders, 5-1-3 in their last nine games, remained one point ahead of third-place Washington in the Patrick Division.

U.S. Olympians Jeff Norton and Todd Okerlund made their NHL debuts for the Islanders. Norton started at right defense, and Okerlund played right wing on New York’s fourth line. Each drew a minor penalty.

Pittsburgh 8, Minnesota 3--Mario Lemieux scored twice for a team-record 56 goals, and Paul Coffey had a goal and three assists as the Penguins ended a six-game losing streak with a victory over the North Stars at Pittsburgh.

Lemieux’s first goal, his 200th in the NHL, highlighted a spree of three goals in the first 4 1/2 minutes against Minnesota goalie Don Beaupre, including Lemieux’s 55th and one by U.S. Olympian Kevin Stevens, making his professional debut.