NHL Roundup : Lemieux Has 2 Goals, 3 Assists in 6-3 Victory

Mario Lemieux says he likes his chances at winning this season’s Hart Trophy, which is awarded to the National Hockey League’s most valuable player.

Lemieux did nothing to hurt those chances Sunday at Quebec, scoring two spectacular short-handed goals and adding three assists--for 13 points in his last 3 games--as the Pittsburgh Penguins defeated the Quebec Nordiques, 6-3.

The Penguins, winners in five of their last six games, and the New York Rangers each have 77 points in the fight for the final playoff spot in the Patrick Division. New Jersey has 74 points.

“This should be my best chance to win the Hart, with Wayne (Gretzky) having missed 15 games and the way things have been going so well for me,” said Lemieux, the league’s leading goal scorer with 65.

“Still, the important thing for me is that the Penguins make the playoffs,” added Lemieux, who has figured in 13 of the last 14 goals by Pittsburgh. “That’s what counts the most.

“I can’t deny that the Hart Trophy is important to me, though. I want to show people I’m one of the best in the NHL.”

Lemieux’s second short-handed goal, at 2:18 of the third period, gave the Penguins a 4-1 laed. He stole the puck from Marc Fortier at the Quebec blue line and virtually carried the Nordique player on his back for 30 feet before beating goaltender Mario Gosselin.

Dan Quinn added his 36th and 37th goals for Pittsburgh, and Randy Cunneyworth and rookie Kevin Stevens completed the scoring.

Peter Stastny, who got his 900th career point with his 46th goal, defenseman Jeff Brown and Michel Goulet, with his 44th goal, scored for the Nordiques, who lost their fourth straight game.

Quebec remained five points behind the fourth-place Hartford Whalers in the Adams Division and nearly out of playoff position.

New Jersey 7, N.Y. Rangers 2--Pat Verbeek scored two goals, including one on a penalty shot in the first period, to carry the Devils to a victory over the Rangers at East Rutherford, N.J., tightening the playoff picture in the Patrick Division.

The victory moved the Devils to within three points of the fourth and final playoff spot.

Verbeek’s backhand shot at 18:03 beat Ranger goalie John Vanbiesbrouck and gave New Jersey a 3-1 lead.

It was his second goal of the period and 43rd of the season. His first goal broke the franchise record, set by Wilf Paiement in 1977-78, when the team was known as the Colorado Rockies, and tied by Verbeek last year.

Referee Don Koharski awarded the penalty shot to Verbeek because Ranger defenseman Mark Hardy threw his stick at Verbeek, who had a partial breakaway.

“I was hoping I’d get away with it,” Hardy said. “My stick was broken, and I was trying to direct it into the play. It was a stupid move on my part, the way the stick flew out of my hand. He had to make the call.”

Hartford 4, Montreal 2--The Whalers scored three goals in the final period, two by Carey Wilson, to overtake the Canadiens at Hartford, Conn., and draw within two points of clinching the final playoff berth in the Adams Division.

Ron Francis and Wilson scored during a 54-second span early in the period, and Wilson added his 26th goal of the season with 6:46 remaining to secure the Whalers’ fifth victory in six games.

They have a seven-point lead over Quebec, which lost earlier in the day.

Detroit 5, Buffalo 3--Adam Oates had two goals and two assists to lead the Red Wings past the Sabres at Buffalo.

Dave Barr, Petr Klima and Joey Kocur got the other goals for the Red Wings, who snapped a four-game winless streak with the victory. Detroit already has clinched the Norris Division title.