NHL ROUNDUP : Devils Power Past the North Stars, 5-2

New Jersey Devil Coach John Cunniff knew where his team was deficient last season. The Devils’ power play efficiency operated at 19%, 15th in the NHL.

“We spent a lot of time working on it,” said Cunniff after his team had scored on its first three power plays and beat the Minnesota North Stars, 5-2, at East Rutherford, N.J.

The Devils were three for seven on power plays for the night. Kirk Muller scored the opening goal and added two assists.

Cunniff added that the Devils also spent a lot of time working on penalty-killing and said having Peter Stastny has made the biggest difference.

“For starters, he (Stastny) wins the faceoffs, giving you control of the puck,” said Cunniff. “After that, he’s the quarterback. He makes the plays. “

Stastny helped set up the first two New Jersey goals by Muller and John MacLean.

The efficient power play helped the Devils build a 2-0 first-period lead, but the North Stars battled back on goals by Bobby Smith and Dave Gagner.

Another New Jersey power-play goal by Bruce Driver at 6:01 of the second period put the Devils ahead to stay.

St. Louis 4, Pittsburgh 3--Geoff Courtnall tapped in a pass from Adam Oates for his second goal of the game with 5:18 to play, as the Blues won at St. Louis.

Brett Hull also had two goals and Oates had three assists for the Blues, 8-1-1 against the Penguins over the past four seasons.

The Penguins had tied the score, 3-3, on Joey Mullen’s spinning back-hander with 8:57 remaining.

Hull’s second goal of the game during a two-man advantage with 10:51 to go broke a 2-2 tie.

Mullen and Bob Errey scored second-period goals to bring the Penguins back from a 2-0 deficit.

The Penguins were held to two shots in the first period, but Mullen put a rebound shot between Joseph’s legs for his third goal at 9:17, cutting the Blues’ lead to 2-1.