NHL ROUNDUP : Fired-Up Nordiques Go Down Swinging, 6-3

Everything seems to be going from worse to terrible for the Quebec Nordiques.

The rest of the NHL has been beating the hapless team with regularity. They have the worst record, by far.

There is no sign things will get better. Just before taking on the tough Sabres Wednesday night at Buffalo, the Nordiques learned that veteran forward Guy Lafleur has a broken cheekbone and will be out for a month.

Angered over the way it happened Tuesday night in a one-sided loss at home to the Sabres, the Nordiques had one-goal leads three different times before losing, 6-3.

The Nordiques felt that Lafleur’s injury in the closing minutes of a 5-2 game was a “sneak” attack by former King defenseman Dean Kennedy.

The Nordiques came out battling Wednesday. There were two fights in the first 32 seconds, and the play was rough throughout.

Benoit Hogue’s unassisted goal after a steal, tied the score, 3-3, four minutes into the final period. Defenseman Mike Ramsey’s shot from the point 2 1/2 minutes later dropped out of goalie Scott Gordon’s glove into the net and the Sabres took control.

Detroit 7, Edmonton 5--Steve Yzerman had the first four-goal game of his career, two of them in a four-goal outburst that brought the Red Wings from behind in the last period at Detroit.

A victory would have moved the Oilers into first place in the Smythe Division. With Craig Simpson scoring twice, the Oilers built a 4-3 lead, but they couldn’t hold it in the last period.

St. Louis 2, New York Rangers 2--It was a good two-game trip to the New York area for the Blues. After upsetting the Islanders, 2-1, Tuesday night, they came right back to tie the Rangers.

Brett Hull scored his 47th goal and rookie goaltender Curtis Joseph came off the bench to stop all 27 shots he faced in the last 47 minutes. Hull has 27 goals in his last 26 games and leads the league in goals.

Washington 4, Minnesota 3--John Tucker scored just 35 seconds into overtime at Bloomington, Minn., to give the Capitals the victory.

The North Stars dominated the first 39:56, firing 34 shots and leading, 2-0. But when Geoff Courtnall scored on a power play with four seconds left in the second period, they seemed to lose their zip.

Toronto 5, Winnipeg 5--Vincent Damphgouse set up Tom Kurvers for a goal at 10:35 of the third period at Winnipeg, then scored himself 24 seconds later, and the Maple Leafs earned a tie.