NHL ROUNDUP : Rangers Rally to Beat Whalers, 3-2

After losing their first two games of a six-game trip, the New York Rangers didn’t seem ready for Game 3.

The Rangers were going against Mike Liut, the sharpest goaltender in the NHL, Saturday night at Hartford, Conn.

Instead of folding, as they did against Pittsburgh and New Jersey, the Rangers finished strongly to beat Liut and the Whalers, 3-2.

Ron Francis beat Bob Froese five minutes after the opening faceoff to give the Whalers a 1-0 lead. The Whalers were still ahead, 2-1, near the middle of the second period.

Defenseman James Patrick tied it on a power play at 8:41 of the second, and John Ogrodnick’s 13th goal put the Rangers ahead near the end of the period.

From them on, Froese and the Ranger defense had everything under control. Froese stopped 12 shots in the last 32 minutes.

It was only the sixth game for Froese, who is 3-2-1 for the Rangers.

Ogrodnick, who spent most of last season in Coach Michel Bergeron’s doghouse, has thrived under Coach Roger Neilson.

“I’m just happy to be playing,” Ogrodnick said. “When you don’t play, it can mess up your mind. But that happens in this game.”

Detroit 8, Quebec 1--The Red Wings ended their winless string with an easy victory at Quebec.

The Red Wings were winless in 12 games since winning Oct. 19 at St. Louis, but they easily won the battle between the teams with the worst records in the league.

Steve Yzerman had two goals and former King Jimmy Carson had a goal and two assists as the Red Wings handed the Nordiques their 11th loss in 13 starts.

“I feel bad for Quebec, but then we’ve been embarrassed a few times,” Coach Jacques Demers of the Red Wings said. “I’m just glad the slump finally ended. It was a tremendous win for us.”

Winnipeg 1, Philadelphia 0--Doug Smail spoiled a brilliant performance by Flyer goalie Ken Wregget at Philadelphia.

Wregget, playing in place of injured Ron Hextall, made his 23rd save on a breakaway by Dale Hawerchuk, but the rebound came out on the stick of Smail, who lifted the puck over Wregget for the only goal at 1:32 of overtime.

Daniel Berthiaume stopped 31 Flyer shots.

Boston 6, New Jersey 4--The Devils must be thinking they made a mistake when they made Andy Brickley available in the waiver draft before the season opened.

Brickley was taken by the Bruins and in this game at Boston, paid a dividend.

Brickley had a hat trick in the third period as the Bruins overcame a 4-1 deficit. Brickley’s third goal gave the Bruins the lead with 1:51 remaining. It was Brickley’s first hat trick. The Bruins have won five in a row.

Chicago 4, Calgary 4--The Flames haven’t regained their winning touch yet, but at least they have a two-game unbeaten string.

The Flames trailed the Blackhawks, 4-1, early in the second period at Calgary, but battled from behind for their second tie in a row. They are winless in their last five games.

Montreal 4, Toronto 3--Mats Naslund scored with 1:35 remaining in overtime at Montreal to give the Canadiens the victory.

The Maple Leafs pulled even, 3-3, late in the second period when left wing Mark Osborne scored a short-handed goal.

Stephane Richer, the Canadiens’ leading scorer, scored their first two goals.

Minnesota 3, St. Louis 0--Goaltender Jon Casey continues to do well for the North Stars.

Casey stopped 36 shots at Bloomington, Minn., to earn his third shutout of the season.

Neal Broten scored his 200th goal for the Stars.

Pittsburgh 5, New York Islanders 3--The Islanders spotted the Penguins three goals in the first 10 minutes at Pittsburgh and it was just too much to overcome.

Paul Coffey scored twice and Mario Lemieux had three assists in leading the Penguins to their third consecutive win.