NHL ROUNDUP : Thomas, Larmer Power Chicago to Norris Lead

Steve Thomas scored four goals and Steve Larmer added two as the Chicago Blackhawks defeated the New Jersey Devils, 6-3, Thursday night at Chicago to take over the Norris Division lead.

The victory gave the Blackhawks 82 points, one more than idle St. Louis with five games remaining. Chicago has not been in first place since Feb. 28.

Boston 7, Quebec 3--Cam Neely scored three goals at Boston, setting a single-season record of 53 by a Bruins’ wing and helping send the Nordiques to their 17th consecutive road loss.

Boston, which has the NHL’s best record, held Quebec, which has the worst, without a shot for the first 9:13.

Philadelphia 5, Pittsburgh 3--Keith Acton had two goals and two assists, and Derek Smith scored the tie-breaker in the third period as the Flyers won at Philadelphia.

Philadelphia, last in the Patrick Division, pulled to within one point of the Penguins for the final playoff spot with five games remaining.

Minnesota 5, Detroit 1--Brian Bellows scored his 50th and 51st goals and set up another as the North Stars won at Detroit.

Minnesota moved three points ahead of Detroit in the race for the Norris Division’s final playoff spot on the night Bob Probert returned to the Red Wings’ lineup for the first time in more than a year and scored their only goal at 7:07 of the final period.

Probert, 24, had not played since he was arrested on March 2, 1989, for smuggling cocaine into the United States. He served a three-month jail sentence.