NHL ROUNDUP : Oilers Finally Score, but Still Can’t Win

Edmonton finally broke out of one slump. It scored a goal for the first time in eight periods.

But the defending Stanley Cup champions can’t snap heir losing streak, which reached a team-record tying six Saturday night as the Oilers (2-8-2) lost to the New Jersey Devils, 5-2, at Edmonton.

The Oilers tied a club record set in 1979-80, their first NHL season. They have scored only six goals during the streak.

When John Murphy scored a first-period goal at 13:43, it ended a drought that lasted 156:31.

John MacLead, who had two goals for the Devils (9-5-1), Claude Lemieux and Alexei Kasatonov gave New Jersey a 3-1 lead in the second period.

Pittsburgh 3, New York Rangers 1--Mark Recchi and John Cullen scored in a 2:59 span at Pittsburgh to help Coach Bob Johnson get his 200th NHL victory.

The Penguins (7-6-1) have won three consecutive games. John Ogrodnick scored for the Rangers (11-4-1) in the third period.

Calgary 7, Toronto 3--Theoren Fleury had one goal and three assists at Toronto as the Flames won their fifth in a row.

Gary Suter, Paul Ranheim, Tim Sweeney, Sergei Makarov, Gary Roberts and Sergei Priakin also scored for the Flames (11-4-0).

Gilles Thibaudeau, Gary Leeman and Dan Marois scored for the Maple Leafs (2-12-1).

Chicago 3, Philadelphia 1--Rookie goaltender Ed Belfour recorded his league-leading ninth win in the Blackhawks’ victory over the Flyers at Philadelphia.

Offensively, the Blackhawks (10-5-0) were led by Steve Larmer with a goal and an assist.

The Flyers (7-7-0) missed seven shots on goal in the last five minutes.

St. Louis 4, Hartford 1--Curtis Joseph stopped 32 shots at Hartford as the Whalers lost their sixth consecutive game.

The Whalers’ (4-8-2) losing streak is their longest since losing seven in a row in February of 1986.

The Blues’ (9-4-1) goals were scored by Gino Cavallini, Herb Raglan, Scott Stevens and Geoff Courtnall.

Buffalo 4, Boston 1--Benoit Hogue scored twice, but it was a pair of freak goals that helped the Sabres hand the Bruins (7-5-2) their first loss at home this season.

Alexander Mogilny of the Sabres (4-5-4) was credited with one of them when the rebound of his shot was kicked into the net by Bruin defenseman Don Sweeney.

The other came on a Pierre Turgeon backhander at 9:54 of the third period after Boston defenseman Ray Bourque’s clearing pass hit a defect in the boards behind the net and bounced onto Turgeon’s stick.

Washington 5, New York Islanders 2--Rookie John Purves scored his first NHL goal and goaltender Jim Hrivnak stopped 19 shots at Uniondale, N.Y., as the Capitals (9-7-0) won their fourth consecutive game.

The injury-riddled Islanders (4-10-0) also lost two more players in the second period when Brent Sutter suffered a gash over his right eye and Jeff Norton dislocated his right shoulder.

Minnesota 2, Quebec 0--Jon Casey stopped 24 shots for his sixth career shutout as the North Stars won on the road for the first time this season.

Larry DePalma and Brian Propp scored for the North Stars (3-9-3). It was the sixth loss in a row for the Nordiques (3-9-3).

Montreal 5, Detroit 2-- Stephan Lebeau’s second goal of the game broke a tie early in the third period to lead the Canadiens past the Red Wings at Montreal.

Russ Courtnall and Stephane Richer also scored for the Canadiens (8-6-1). The Red Wings (7-5-3) are winless in seven road games this season.

Winnipeg 5, Vancouver 3--Greg Paslawski scored the tiebreaking goal off a scramble midway through the third period to lead the Jets at Vancouver.

Doug Evans, Phil Housley, Teppo Numminen and Thomas Steen had the other goals for the Jets (6-8-1). The Canucks (7-7-0) got goals from Brian Bradley, Robert Nordmark and Doug Lidster.