NHL ROUNDUP : Oilers Looking Great Again in Shutout Victory

The Edmonton Oilers had relied on Wayne Gretzky to lead them for a decade. When he was traded to the Kings in the summer of 1988, the Oilers were lost.

Though they never really recovered from his loss last season, there is no doubt the Oilers are learning to play without him.

Bill Ranford had to make only 22 saves Tuesday night at Bloomington, Minn., and the Oilers retained first place in the Smythe Division with a 5-0 victory over the Minnesota North Stars.

Craig McTavish had two goals and Craig Muni and Esa Tikkanen each added short-handed goals in the one-sided victory.

The Oilers were missing their No. 1 goalie, Grant Fuhr, at the start of the season, and they stumbled into last place with only five victories in their first 17 games.

They are 12-2-2 in their last 16 games and nobody is playing better.

“I admit I spent most of last season looking around to see where Wayne was,” said Mark Messier, the Oilers’ leading scorer. “It took me a long time to realize he didn’t play for us anymore.

“I think it was a problem for all of us. It isn’t any longer. We know we are pretty good without Wayne. We’re out to prove it.”

Messier has 20 goals and 54 points in 35 games, in which the Oilers have a 17-11-7 record. Only two teams have more than the Oilers’ 41 points.

New York Islanders 5, New Jersey 4--The Islanders also are playing well after a poor start.

Pat LaFontaine scored twice in the last 3:23 of regulation at Uniondale, N.Y., to get the Islanders even. Then, at 1:42 of overtime, veteran Don Maloney knocked in a rebound of his own shot to win it.

The Islanders have won three in a row and are only a point away from getting out of the Patrick Division cellar.

Hartford 8, Pittsburgh 4--Todd Krygier and Ron Francis each scored twice at Pittsburgh as the Whalers romped.

Hartford is 11-5-2 on the road.

The Penguins (13-17-3) are in danger of falling into last place in the Patrick Division.

Calgary 2, Vancouver 1--Although the Canucks have been hit by a injuries and the flu, they battled the Stanley Cup champion Flames on even terms until the last period at Vancouver.

The Flames can move into a tie for first in the Smythe Division with a victory over the Canucks tonight at Calgary.

Washington 2, Philadelphia 1--Kelly Miller scored with 3:30 left to give the Capitals the victory at Philadelphia.

It was a rough game with referee Denis Morel dishing out 100 minutes in penalties in the second period alone.