NHL ROUNDUP : Once Again, Beaupre Proves He Can Play

After spending most of last season in the minors, goaltender Don Beaupre believed that he had to prove once again that he belonged in the NHL.

If there was any doubt, his play in the last five games should do the trick.

Beaupre, who spent the better part of eight seasons as the starting goaltender for the Minnesota North Stars, shut out the Nordiques Sunday at Quebec and led the Washington Capitals to a 3-0 victory. It was the seventh consecutive loss for the Nordiques.

Although his record in the five games is only 2-2-1, he played very well. In each of the first four games, he gave up just one goal, but because the Capitals have the league’s worst offense, he lost twice, 1-0.

The Nordiques had only 18 shots on Beaupre, who has stopped 113 shots in the last five games.

Beaupre is 5-5-3, having played one more game in the NHL than he did all last season. He played one game for Minnesota, then was traded to the Capitals Nov. 1. After spending most of the season in the minors, he joined the Capitals and played in 11 games late in the season.

Philadelphia 3, New York Islanders 2--With the Flyers’ two top goaltenders hurt, rookie Bruce Hoffort came through in his debut at Philadelphia.

Because Ron Hextall was slightly injured Saturday night, the Flyers brought Hoffort up from Hershey, Pa. of the American Hockey League. When Pete Peeters was injured in a collision with Alan Kerr of the Islanders in the second period, Hoffort took the ice.

He had to stop only seven shots in the last 25 minutes, and when Gord Murphy scored halfway through the final period, Hoffort got the win.

Chicago 4, Winnipeg 3--Wayne Presley pulled the Blackhawks even with 6:17 remaining in regulation at Chicago and David Manson won it in overtime.

Manson’s first goal of the season, at 3:18, enabled the Blackhawks to increase their lead in the Norris Division to six points.

Vancouver 5, Pittsburgh 3--Jim Sandlak scored twice as the Canucks used their special teams to defeat the Penguins at Vancouver.

Sandlak scored one of his goals on the power play, while Jim Benning and Trevor Linden scored shorthanded for the Canucks.