NHL ROUNDUP : First the Bus Breaks Down, Then Whalers Do the Same

The Hartford Whalers had an idea about what kind of night it was going to be when their bus broke down before it reached the Boston airport for their flight to Montreal.

Things didn’t get any better Monday night as the Canadiens scored four goals on seven shots in the first period and held on for a 5-3 victory.

Stephane Richer’s fourth goal of the season capped the four-goal first period. Richer cruised through the slot and hit Russ Courtnall’s pass from the corner high to the near post past rookie goaltender Kay Whitmore.

Not until Stephan Lebeau scored midway through the third period did the Whalers look as if they might battle back from a 4-1 deficit.

The Whalers, who outshot the Canadiens, 35-19, including 29-12 the final 40 minutes, closed to within one when Randy Cunneyworth overpowered goaltender Patrick Roy at 3:50 of the third period.

The Whalers wasted six power-play chances, including a five-minute advantage late in the game.

Calgary 4, Winnipeg 3--Rookie Stephane Matteau and Brian MacLellan scored goals 57 seconds apart in the third period as the unbeaten Flames came from behind to beat the Jets at Winnipeg.

Joe Nieuwendyk had two goals for the Flames, who were outshot, 32-22, and needed spectacular goaltending from Mike Vernon and a couple of less-than-spectacular goals to win their third consecutive game.

Fredrik Olausson, Doug Smail and Teppo Numminen scored for Winnipeg.

New York Rangers 6, Minnesota 3--Bernie Nicholls had a goal and two assists in a three-goal first period as the Rangers won their home opener after two road defeats.

The Rangers, who lost in Chicago and Hartford, took a 3-0 first-period lead. Nicholls assisted on a goal by Darren Turcotte at 4:53 for his 800th NHL point, scored his third goal of the season on a power play at 10:53 and assisted on a goal by Mike Gartner at 17:21, the 450th of Gartner’s career.

Brian Bellows, Mike Craig and Brian Propp scored the goals for the North Stars.