NHL Roundup : Quebec Coach Learns of Tumor, Steps Down

Ron Lapointe, coach of the Quebec Nordiques, stepped down following Thursday night’s 6-4 victory over the Canadiens at Montreal, after a tumor was discovered in his kidney earlier in the day.

“It’s a day I’ll never forget,” Lapointe said. “I got a slap in the face in the morning and a win at night. Nothing is over, that’s for sure. . . . I’ll be ready for the playoffs, I’m convinced of that.”

Pierre Beauchemin, the team doctor, said the tumor probably was cancerous. General Manager Martin Madden said he would name a new coach today.

Pat Burns, the Montreal coach, learned of Lapointe’s illness before the game but did not tell his players.

“I had a hard time looking at Ron during the game,” Burns said. “Ron and I have been close, through junior hockey and the American Hockey League. I feel close to him, and I was shocked by the news.”

Lapointe has been the Nordiques’ coach since last December.

Michel Goulet, Peter Stastny and Paul Gillis scored during a 4-minute span of the third period as Quebec ended the Canadiens’ 9-game unbeaten streak.

Calgary 2, Vancouver 0--Rick Wamsley stopped 28 shots for his second shutout of the season as the Flames extended their home unbeaten streak to 17 games.

Calgary, the only NHL team still undefeated at home this season, is 14-0-3 at the Olympic Saddledome. The Flames, with an NHL-high 49 points, moved 8 ahead of the Kings in the Smythe Division.

Pittsburgh 8, New York Islanders 2--Mario Lemieux had 1 goal and 4 assists as the Penguins handed the Islanders a club record-tying 12th straight loss at Uniondale, N.Y.

The defeat matched the record set in 1972-73, the Islanders’ first season. The league record for consecutive losses in a season is 17 by the Washington Capitals in 1974-75, their first year.

Buffalo 2, Minnesota 2--Mike Foligno scored on a breakaway with 4:51 left in the second period as the Sabres rallied from a 2-goal deficit to tie the North Stars at Bloomington, Minn.

Boston 4, Edmonton 3--Bobby Joyce scored his second goal of the game at 2:03 of overtime as the Bruins beat the Oilers at Boston.

Boston goalie Andy Moog had 32 saves in the first meeting between the teams since the Oilers swept the Bruins in the Stanley Cup finals.

New Jersey 6, Toronto 3--John MacLean got his third hat trick in the last 5 games as the Devils extended the Maple Leafs’ winless streak to 9 games (0-8-1) at East Rutherford, N.J.

MacLean has 10 goals in the last 5 games and a team-leading 21 for the season. New Jersey extended its unbeaten streak to 4-0-1, its longest of the season.

Philadelphia 4, Washington 1--Brian Propp and Gord Murphy scored first-period goals to lead the Flyers past the Capitals at Philadelphia.

Washington outshot the Flyers, 33-23, but was stymied by Philadelphia’s defense and goaltender Ron Hextall. The Capitals had only 8 shots in 5 power-play opportunities.

St. Louis 3, Hartford 3--Greg Paslawski, Brett Hull and Doug Evans scored second-period goals, and the Blues came back to tie the Whalers at St. Louis.

Tom Martin, Ray Ferraro and Jody Hull scored for the Whalers.