NHL ROUNDUP : Lemieux Nears Gretzky’s Mark

Mario Lemieux’s back problems are getting worse. He is wearing a brace and will require surgery to fix a disk that is rubbing on nerves and his spinal cord.

Although he is having trouble sleeping and says that at times the pain is unbearable, he plans to wait until the NHL season is over before having the operation.

Opposing goaltenders have trouble believing the streaking star of the Pittsburgh Penguins is really hurting. They would just as soon he had the surgery now.

Lemieux assisted on a goal just 2:20 into the first period Tuesday night against the New York Islanders at Pittsburgh to extend his point-scoring streak to 43 games. Aching back and all, he has the second-best streak in league history, behind only Wayne Gretzky’s 51 consecutive games.

It doesn’t help either Lemieux’s physical or mental condition that the Penguins continue to flirt with last place in the Patrick Division.

Although Lemieux scored two goals and had three assists, the Penguins lost an 8-7 overtime thriller. Lemieux set up the tying goal with two minutes left in regulation, but veteran Don Maloney scored with just 36 seconds remaining in overtime for the sizzling Islanders.

New York leads the division and is nine points ahead of the Penguins. The Islanders have charged from last place by posting a 13-3-1 record in the last 17 games. The Penguins’ team physician, Charles Burke, said a damaged disk between the fourth and fifth vertebrae in Lemieux’s lower back has gotten increasingly worse. He also said the injury was not career-threatening.

But Lemieux was unable to practice Monday. “Some days I feel great, sometimes I feel terrible,” Lemieux said. “There seem to be more of the latter lately.”

Edmonton 2, New Jersey 2--The Oilers, who have been without goaltender Grant Fuhr most of the season, lost his capable replacement in a game at East Rutherford, N.J.

Bill Ranford, who kept the Oilers in the battle for first place, was knocked unconscious early in the game in a pileup in front of the net. Pokey Reddick came in to play in a league game for the first time.

He just missed the victory. With three seconds left in regulation, Patrik Sundstrom scored on a power play to get the Devils a tie.

Washington 12, Quebec 2--Dino Ciccarelli, one of the most prolific scorers in the game, had not had a goal in eight games, but he scored four times to lead an easy victory in Landover, Md. He had a second-period hat trick.

Boston 2, Detroit 0--The Bruins practically gave goaltender Andy Moog the night off at Detroit.

The Red Wings had only 14 shots on goal. Most of Moog’s saves were easy, and Boston stretched its lead in the Adams Division to five points.

St. Louis 6, Toronto 4--Brett Hull became a part of hockey history when he scored his 50th goal of the season in this game at St. Louis.

Bobby Hull and Brett became the only father-son combination to reach the 50 plateau.

Brett’s father was on hand for the historic event.

Vancouver 5, Winnipeg 3--Dan Quinn scored twice at Vancouver to lead the Canucks to the victory.