NHL ROUNDUP : Maple Leafs Win Fifth in a Row, 5-1

Gary Leeman and Dave Reid scored 37 seconds apart late in the second period, lifting the visiting Toronto Maple Leafs to their fifth consecutive victory, a 5-1 win over the New Jersey Devils Friday night.

The victory, the Maple Leafs’ ninth in their last 11 games, marked the return of former Devil coach Doug Carpenter to Brendan Byrne Arena.

“This is not a homecoming,” Carpenter said. “This is not my home anymore. But maybe it does mean a little more winning here.”

Soviet defenseman Alexei Kasatonov had his first NHL goal for the Devils.

Chicago 4, Buffalo 2--Adam Creighton scored two goals and assisted on another as the Blackhawks handed the Sabres their fifth consecutive home loss.

Creighton, traded by Buffalo to Chicago last season, said: “I was kind of looking forward to it. . . . It’s good to do it anywhere, but when a team gets rid of you, it’s good to come back and stick it to them.”

Chicago moved back into a tie with Buffalo for second place in the overall NHL standings. Both teams have 60 points, three fewer than Boston, which leads the Adams Division.

Washington 6, Montreal 3--The Capitals took a 4-0 lead over the Canadiens in the first 12:27.

Dale Hunter had a goal and an assist in the first period and Geoff Courtnall added two goals in the second for the Capitals. Rookie goalie Jim Hrivnak won his first NHL start.

North Stars 6, Canucks 3--Neal Broten scored two goals and his brother Aaron added one at Vancouver to lead the North Stars to a rare road victory.

It was only the North Stars’ second win in their last 17 road games.

Mike Gartner, Brian Bellows and Gaetan Duchesne scored the other goals as Minnesota moved within one point of idle St. Louis in the Norris Division. Brian Bradley, Paul Reinhart and Kevan Guy scored for Vancouver, which has won only five of its last 30 games.