NHL Roundup : Islanders Stop Losing Streak at 12

Just 8 months after they won the Patrick Division regular-season title, the New York Islanders were on the verge of setting a club record for futility.

After losing 12 in a row to tie the record set by their 1972-73 expansion team that won only 12 games all season, the Islanders ended the streak with a 5-2 victory over the New Jersey Devils Saturday night at Uniondale, N.Y.

It was fitting that team captain Brent Sutter made the key plays that gave Al Arbour his first victory after 4 defeats since he returned as coach. Arbour replaced Terry Simpson Dec. 7, after the eighth loss in a row.

Sutter’s ninth goal of the season early in the second period put the Islanders ahead to stay, and a minute later he set up David Volek for a 2-goal lead.

“Even with the big lead, I was nervous until the final buzzer,” Arbour said. “I’m really happy for the players. They’ve suffered for a long time (since Nov. 19).

“Now maybe we can start doing something to get back into the race.”

Veteran Billy Smith turned aside 25 shots to improve his career record against the Devils to 28-6-6. He assured himself of the win by thwarting hot-shooting John Mac-Lean, who had 3 hat tricks in the previous 5 games.

The Devils, who had been unbeaten in their last 5 games, are 1-36-3 at the Nassau Coliseum.

St. Louis 4, Chicago 0--Not since the days of the great goalies, Glenn Hall and Jacques Plante, have the Blues had a goalie with the shutout touch of Greg Millen.

Millen turned aside 26 shots at St. Louis for his fourth shutout in eight games this month and his fifth this season.

In 1968-69 for the Blues, Hall had 8 shutouts, Plante 5.

Pittsburgh 3, Detroit 2--Phil Bourque and Dan Frawley scored just 61 seconds apart in the middle of the third period at Pittsburgh to pull out the victory.

In winning a battle of division leaders, the Penguins improved to 9-1-2 in the last 12 games and increased their lead in the Patrick Division to 4 points.

It was a costly defeat for the Red Wings, who lead the Norris Division by 7 points. Troubled star Petr Klima of the Wings injured his groin in the first period and never returned.

Boston 2, Quebec 2--Rookie defenseman Greg Hawgood spends his spare time studying films of Bobby Orr, his idol. The 20-year-old Bruin must be learning a few things, because he keeps getting better.

Hawgood scored both goals in the tie with the Nordiques at Boston. He has 4 goals in 10 games since being called up from Maine of the American Hockey League.

Peter Stastny scored twice for the Nordiques to give Jean Perron a tie in his first game as coach of the Nordiques.

Montreal 6, New York Rangers 3--When Guy Lafleur broke his foot last week, it delayed his first appearance as a Ranger at Montreal.

Another Guy, Carbonneau, had a goal and an assist in the third period as the Canadiens broke open a close game.

Edmonton 4, Hartford 2--Esa Tikkanen and Craig Muni scored goals 3 minutes apart at Hartford, Conn., to lead the Oilers. Tikkanen broke a 2-2 tie with his 21st goal at 3:36.

Philadelphia 7, Toronto 1--Rick Tocchet had a hat trick at Toronto, and the Flyers extended the hapless Maple Leafs’ winless streak to 10 games.

Tocchet scored the first 2 goals for the Flyers in the first period and scored the last one, his 19th, in the closing minutes. Tim Kerr scored his 26th to help the Flyers win their fifth in a row.

Washington 6, Winnipeg 3--Geoff Courtnall and Mike Ridley each scored twice at Landover, Md., as the Capitals presented Coach Bryan Murray with his 300th NHL victory.

Murray, who is in his eighth season with the Capitals, is the 17th coach to achieve 300 victories.

With the victory, the Capitals moved into a tie with the Rangers for second place in the Patrick Division.