NHL Roundup : Lemieux Leads Penguins to 5-2 Win Over Toronto

Mario Lemieux, who moved close to his first National Hockey League scoring championship, led the Penguins back into the playoff picture with a 5-2 victory over Toronto Wednesday night at Pittsburgh.

Lemieux scored his league-leading 58th goal and assisted on two others as the Penguins defeated the Maple Leafs and moved within one point of the New York Rangers in the battle for the final playoff spot in the Patrick Division.

With a club-record 142 points, Lemieux leads Edmonton’s Wayne Gretzky by 15 points. Gretzky, who missed 14 games with injuries and was below par in several others, and Lemieux each have nine games to play.

The winning total is certain to be the lowest since 1980-81, when Gretzky won the first of his seven consecutive titles with 164 points.

While the main battle for the final Patrick spot in Stanley Cup play is between the Rangers, who have 70 points, and the Penguins, who have 69, New Jersey, with 67, also has a shot.

Although the Penguins have five of their nine remaining games at home to four for each rival, they probably have the worst of the schedule. Pittsburgh has two games left with Washington, the hottest team in the division, and two with Philadelphia. It also must play Adams Division leader Montreal.

The Rangers do not play Washington and face only one division leader, Detroit, a runaway winner in the Norris Division.

About the only hope for New Jersey would be to win its two games with the Penguins and one with the Rangers.

Washington 8, New York Rangers 4--The surging Capitals scored three goals in less than 2 1/2 minutes in the second period at New York and went on to win for the 13th time in the last 16 games.

While dealing a blow to the playoff hopes of the Rangers, the Capitals took a three-point lead over injury-riddled Philadelphia in the battle for the division title.

The Rangers seemed in command until the Capitals’ Dale Hunter slammed into goaltender John Vanbiesbrouck to touch off a brawl early in the second period. After order was restored, the Capitals scored on their next six shots.

Montreal 4, Winnipeg 1--Gilles Thibaudeau set up three goals at Winnipeg as the Canadiens stretched their unbeaten streak to 12 games (11-0-1) and virtually clinched the Adams Division title.

The streaking Canadiens lead Boston by nine points and their 41-20-11 record is the best in the league. Their total of 93 points puts them one ahead of Calgary, leader of the Smythe Division.

Detroit 2, Minnesota 1-- Goaltender Greg Stefan made 35 saves at Bloomington, Minn., and virtually assured the Red Wings their first division title in 23 years.

With eight games remaining, the Red Wings have 87 points in the Norris Division to 69 for St. Louis. A tie for either team would clinch the title for the Wings.

Lee Norwood scored the decisive goal with four minutes left in the second period. Stefan’s saves helped the Wings score their sixth victory in a row.