NHL Roundup : Lemieux Returns, but Brown Is the Star as Penguins Win

Rob Brown scored 2 goals and assisted on another as the Pittsburgh Penguins ended their 3-game losing streak with a 5-1 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs Thursday night at Pittsburgh.

Mario Lemieux, the National Hockey League’s leading scorer, returned after missing 2 games with a sprained right wrist. He played exclusively on the Penguins’ 8 power plays and had no points or shots on goal.

After the game, Lemieux expressed optimism that he was closer to a new contract with the Penguins. He and his agent, Tom Reich, had set Thursday night as a deadline for renegotiating his current deal, but Lemieux said the deadline may be extended a week or two.

Lemieux earns an estimated $600,000 a season in base salary and has this season, next season and an option year left on his contract.

Calgary 3, Philadelphia 2--Joe Nieuwendyk tipped Gary Roberts’ shot past Flyer goalie Mark Laforest at 1:29 of overtime to give the Flames a victory at Philadelphia.

Philadelphia had tied the game, 2-2, with 5:13 left in regulation time when Derrick Smith fired a wrist shot from the slot past Calgary goaltender Mike Vernon.

Washington 4, Quebec 1--Dale Hunter scored a goal and assisted on 2 others, and the Capitals held the Nordiques to 5 shots on goal in the first 31 minutes of the victory at Landover, Md.

Minnesota 5, St. Louis 5--Dave Archibald and Neal Broten scored power-play goals in the third period as the North Stars overcame a 2-goal deficit for the tie at St. Louis. Dino Ciccarelli had 2 goals and an assist for Minnesota, which remained winless on the road at 0-6-2.