NHL ROUNDUP : Rangers Blank Canadiens for First Time Since 1970

John Vanbiesbrouck made 41 saves and Mike Gartner scored twice as the New York Rangers beat Montreal, 3-0, Friday night at New York, shutting out the Canadiens for the first time in 20 years.

The Rangers, breaking a six-game losing streak against Montreal, last shut out the Canadiens on Oct. 18, 1970, with Ed Giacomin in goal.

The victory was also the third in a row for the Rangers after opening the season with two consecutive losses.

Vanbiesbrouck made key third-period stops on Mathiew Schneider and Denis Savard in recording his eighth shutout.

After defenseman Brian Leetch scored for the Rangers at 13:30 of the first period, the game evolved into a superb goaltending contest between Vanbiesbrouck and Patrick Roy, the former Vezina Trophy winners.

Mike Gantner scored a power-play goal to at 9:53 of the third period and added an empty-net goal in the game’s final minute to round out the scoring.

Detroit 4, Hartford 2--Steve Yzerman scored twice and set up Shawn Burr’s tiebreaking goal in the third period at Detroit and the Red Wings posted their second straight come-from-behind win.

Burr, who scored the tying goal in Detroit’s 6-5 overtime victory over Calgary Wednesday, slipped behind the Whalers’ defense during a line change, took a pass from Yzerman in front of the Hartford net and slipped a backhander between the legs of goalie Kay Whitmore, breaking a 2-2 tie.

The Red Wings (2-2-1) spotted the Whalers a 2-0 lead on goals by Randy Cunneyworth and Kevin Dineen but bounced back with a pair in the second period.

Washington 3, Winnipeg 1--Mike Liut stopped 27 shots and Nick Kypreos scored the go-ahead goal for the Capitals in the second period at Landover, Md.

The Jets have a winless streak of four games.

Liut allowed a first-period power-play goal before stopping the Jets’ final 24 shots.

Quebec 4, Buffalo 2--Owen Nolan, the No. 1 pick in June’s entry draft, scored his first NHL goal and assisted on another to lead the Nordiques at Buffalo.

It was the second consecutive road win for the Nordiques and their first over Buffalo since March 21, 1989. Last year Quebec had just one tie in eight games with Buffalo.

Vancouver 4, St. Louis 0--Rookie goaltender Troy Gamble got his first start of the season for the Canucks and easily handled the few tough shots he faced as the Canucks outshot the Blues, 25-13, at Vancouver.