NHL Roundup : Two Soviets Lead Canucks Past Red Wings, 5-3

This is the season of the Red invasion in the National Hoceky League. This is the year that Soviet players, sprinkled among several teams in the league, are expected to become big stars.

After only the second game of the season, it appears to be happening, at least for Vancouver. The Canucks’ Soviet connection, Igor Larionov and Vladimir Krutov, provided much of the offense as Vancouver beat Detroit, 5-3 Saturday night at Vancouver, Canada.

Krutov had his first two NHL goals, and Larionov, his long-time linemate with the Central Red Army and Soviet National teams, had a pair of assists and created numerous scoring chances.

Tony Tanti and Greg Adams scored the other Vancouver goals. Detroit got two goals from Steve Yzerman and one by Gerard Gallant as the Red Wings lost their second straight.

Detroit scored 44 seconds after the opening faceoff when Gallant tipped a pass past Kirk McLean on the game’s first shot on goal.

Vancouver tied the score on Krutov’s first NHL goal during a power play. Larionov fed Krutov in the slot and the stocky left wing knocked in his own rebound. Just 25 seconds later, Tanti fired another rebound past Glen Hanlon.

Larionov assisted on Paul Reinhart’s goal in the second period. The Canucks scored again in the period to make it 4-1.

Both Yzerman goals came in the last period. Krutov scored into an empty net with one second left.

Toronto 8, St. Louis 5--Ed Olczyk and Daniel Marois each scored two goals as the Maple Leafs spoiled the Blues’ home opener.

Toronto broke a 3-3 tie early in the second period when Al Iafrate and Olczyk scored 66 seconds apart. Toronto opened a 7-3 lead later in the period on goals 54 seconds apart by Lou Franceschetti and Gary Leeman.

Calgary 6, New York 3--Paul Ranheim, Joey Mullen and Gary Roberts scored in a 2-minute 16-second span late in the third period to break open a close game as the Flames kept the Islanders winless at Calgary.

Joe Nieuwendyk scored into an empty net and collected three assists as Calgary, the defending Stanley Cup champion, won its second consecutive game. Soviet rookie Sergei Makarov also had a goal and three assists. Ric Nattress added a goal and an assist.

New Jersey 4, Pittsburgh 4--Walt Poddubny tapped in a rebound early in the third period for his second goal of the game, and the Devils fought from behind three times for the tie with the Penguins at East Rutherford, N.J.

NHL scoring champion Mario Lemieux ran his two-game point total to five, all assists, by setting up three of the four Penguin goals.

Montreal 5, Buffalo 1--Brian Skrudland and Stephane Richer scored first-period goals, and Patrick Roy made 27 saves as the Canadiens routed the Sabres at Montreal.

Skrudland and Richer both scored for the second time in two games and Mats Naslund got his first of the season early in the second period for a 3-0 lead.

Chicago 3, Washington 2--Greg Gilbert scored with 8:49 to play to snap a 1-1 tie, and the Blackhawks went on to defeat the Capitals for their first victory at the Capital Centre since 1985.

Chicago went ahead, 3-1, when Troy Murray intercepted a clearing pass at the Washington blue line and beat Don Beaupre with a backhand shot from just outside the Washington crease.

The Capitals pulled to within 3-2 when Dale Hunter scored a power-play goal with 3:21 to play.

Minnesota 6, Hartford 4--North Star rookie center Mike Modano scored two goals, and left wing Dave Archibald had a goal and two assists as Minnesota got a win at Hartford.

Modano’s second goal of the game, broke a 3-3 tie. Bob Brooke, Dave Gagner and Mike Gartner also scored for Minnesota, now 2-0.

Brian Lawton, Ron Francis, Dean Evason and Mikael Andersson scored for the Whalers, whose record dropped to 0-2.

Quebec 4, Boston 1--Veteran Guy Lafleur had a goal and an assist, and goalie Ron Tugnutt stopped 38 shots, leading the Nordiques to victory at Boston.

Lafleur’s goal came on a power play midway through the third period.

The goal was the second in as many games for Lafleur, a Hall of Famer who is in the second season of a comeback after staying out of hockey for four years.