NHL ROUNDUP : Oilers Rip Bruins Without Messier

The Edmonton Oilers were without center Mark Messier for the first time this season, but they didn’t seem to miss him Friday night against the Boston Bruins in a matchup of last season’s Stanley Cup finalists.

Petr Klima had two goals and two assists as the defending champion Oilers cruised to an 8-1 victory over the Bruins.

Messier was injured Tuesday night against the St. Louis Blues. He is expected to be sidelined because of a sprained knee for six to eight weeks.

Mark Lamb and Klima each scored twice, while Craig Simpson, Ken Linseman, Steve Smith and Charlie Huddy had the other goals for the Oilers.

New Jersey 3, N.Y. Rangers 2--Patrik Sundstrom, Paul Ysebaert and Brendan Shanahan scored for the Devils, who moved into first place in the Patrick Division with the victory at East Rutherford, N.J.

It was the fifth consecutive victory for the Devils and extended their home unbeaten streak to six games.

Goaltender Chris Terreri made 25 saves for his fourth consecutive victory.

The loss ended the Rangers’ five-game winning streak.

Washington 4, N.Y. Islanders 3--Mike Ridley scored one of the Capitals’ four power-play goals midway through the third period at Landover, Md.

Entering the game, the Capitals had converted only three of 28 power-play chances. But they converted four of five opportunities against the Islanders and ended a three-game losing streak.

John Druce scored two goals for the Capitals and Calle Johansson had three assists for the Capitals.

David Volek scored two goals and had an assist for the Islanders.

Pittsburgh 4, Buffalo 4--Mike Foligno scored at 13:10 of the third period to lift the Sabres to the tie at Buffalo, N.Y.

The tie extended Buffalo’s winless streak to seven games (0-4-3), the worst start for the Sabres in their 21-year history.

Rick Vaive had two goals for the Sabres.

Winnipeg 7, Vancouver 5--Scott Arneil and Thomas Steen scored in the third period at Winnipeg to help the Jets end a six-game losing streak.

Arneil broke a 4-4 tie and Steen added the clincher as the Jets ended a three-game Vancouver winning streak.