NHL Roundup : Fuhr Is Injured as Edmonton Routs Winnipeg

The Edmonton Oilers, thoroughly dominated by the Winnipeg Jets in their 2 previous meetings, controlled the game Wednesday night at Winnipeg when they routed the Jets, 9-4.

It was almost a costly victory, though. Grant Fuhr, generally recognized as the game’s best goaltender, was injured in a second-period collision and was carried off the ice on a stretcher.

After treatment at a hospital, he was released with what Oiler officials said was a strained neck.

Oiler defenseman Craig Redmond pushed the Jets’ Andrew McBain and he crashed into Fuhr. Replays showed Fuhr’s head snapped around before he crumpled to the ice.

Fuhr lay motionless for nearly 20 minutes, but the fans cheered when he appeared to be talking and moving his hands while being carried off.

Earlier in the day, Fuhr was voted to the Campbell Conference All-Star team as the starting goalie,

Fuhr, who has an 11-13-4 record this season plus a shutout, entered the game with a 3.86 goals-against average. He was one victory away from 200 career wins before the game, and the Oilers were leading at the time of the injury.

He missed getting credit for the milestone victory, though.

In the 2 recent victories over the Oilers, the Jets scored 14 goals.

But when Fuhr was hurt, the Oilers had already built a 5-2 lead. They scored 2 more goals before the period ended.

Mark Messier sparked Edmonton. He had 2 goals and 2 assists as the Oilers put on an offensive performance similar to the ones they used to stage when Wayne Gretzky was their leader.

Montreal 3, Hartford 1--Mike McPhee and Guy Carbonneau scored third-period goals at Montreal to lead the Canadiens to victory.

The Whalers, with goalie Peter Sidorkiewicz playing well, made a 1-0 lead stand up from the opening minutes, until McPhee scored 4 minutes into the final period.

It was 7 minutes later that Carbonneau scored the game-winner on a soft shot that eluded the goalie. Peter Svoboda completed the scoring into an empty net.

The sizzling Canadiens have won 13 of their last 14 games and have built their lead in the Adams Division to 22 points. Their 32-11-6 record is the league’s best.

New York Rangers 6, Chicago 4--Rookie Tony Granato had his second hat trick in 3 games as the Rangers climbed into a tie for first place in the Patrick Division with this victory at Chicago.

Brian Mullen’s 21st goal broke a 4-4 tie after Chicago scored 4 times in the second period to overcome a 4-0 deficit.

Mullen’s goal came with 9 minutes left. Chicago battled back until the final minute, when Granato scored his 29th goal to clinch it.

Buffalo 3, Minnesota 3--A freak bounce off the boards at Buffalo gave the Sabres’ Ray Sheppard a goal in the third period and a tie with the North Stars.

The North Stars scored 3 goals within 3:21 of the second period to build a 3-1 lead.

Rick Vaive cut the lead to a goal on a power-play pass from Phil Housley late in the second period.

There was 5:23 left in regulation when Sheppard’s fluke score sent the game into a scoreless overtime.