NHL Roundup : Hextall Helps Lead Flyers to 5-1 Victory Over Jets

Last season the Philadelphia Flyers were off to a slow start largely because their brilliant goaltender Ron Hextall was suspended for the first eight games.

This season the Flyers were off to a slow start largely because Hextall was in a terrible slump.

Hextall, however, has regained his form and the talented Flyers are on a roll.

Rick Tocchet scored twice Sunday night at Philadelphia and Hextall stopped 24 shots to lead the Flyers to a 5-1 victory over Winnipeg.

Their fifth consecutive victory--all with Hextall in the nets--enabled the Flyers to reach .500 (17-17-2) and move into a tie for second place in the Patrick Division.

Hextall was shaky in the first two victories of the streak, allowing seven goals. But in the last three, he has yielded only a goal in each match.

Sunday, the Flyers built a 4-0 lead before Andrew McBain, on a power play, scored on a 30-foot shot late in the second period.

Tocchet, who scored 3 goals Saturday, scored the 100th of his career to conclude the scoring with 15 minutes left.

In November, when Philadelphia fans were booing Hextall, Coach Paul Holmgren finally gave his goalie a rest. He has come back strong and the jeers have changed to cheers.

“It’s not just the last three games,” Hextall said, “I’ve been feeling better lately. I feel the whole team has straightened out. We are ready to make a run at first place.”

Quebec 4, Boston 2--When the Bruins opened the season with a 9-3-3 record, it was predicted they would be one of the contenders for the Stanley Cup.

But now they are struggling.

Jeff Jackson and Walt Poddubny scored 37 seconds apart in the third period to give new coach Jean Perron a victory in his first game at Quebec.

The Bruins, who tied the Nordiques at Boston Saturday, have won only 4 of their last 20.

New Jersey 5, Chicago 3--Sharpshooting John MacLean scored his 23rd goal on a power play with a little more than 7 minutes left at Chicago to break a 3-3 tie. Just 19 seconds later, Pat Conacher scored his third of the season to clinch the victory.

MacLean, who has had two hat tricks in the last seven games, equalled last season’s goal total.

The Blackhawks held a 3-2 lead when MacLean, also on the power play scored with only 2 minutes left in the second period.