NHL ROUNDUP : Islanders Not Worst, Beat One of Best, 5-1

It took three consecutive victories for the New York Islanders to start believing in themselves.

It wasn’t how many, but who they beat.

Pat LaFontaine, the key to their offense, scored twice Saturday night at Uniondale, N.Y., and the Islanders earned a 5-1 victory over the Calgary Flames.

When the Islanders started their streak Tuesday, they merely proved they were best of the worst by beating Toronto, 4-3. When they followed with a victory over New Jersey, it was encouraging.

But nothing they did in their previous 16 games gave any indication that Al Arbour’s team was capable playing well against a good team. Beating a team that is generally considered the best in the National Hockey League, though, is something to get excited about.

The Flames led the league in scoring on power plays and the Islanders were 20th in killing penalties, but New York stopped the Flames on all four of their power play opportunities. On one, the Flames had two extra men for 36 seconds and couldn’t score.

Former King Glenn Healy stopped 23 shots to improve his record to 4-3-0. He lost his shutout when Joel Otto scored three minutes into the last period.

LaFontaine, who extended his scoring streak to nine games, scored on a power play to get the Islanders in front in the first period. After Otto’s goal cut the lead to 3-1, LaFontaine scored his 13th. Later in the period, LaFontaine set up the final New York goal.

Buffalo 4, Washington 2--The Sabres went to the hot goaltender, and Clint Malarchuk stopped his former teammates’ five-game winning streak at Landover, Md.

Malarchuk (5-2-1), traded by the Capitals to the Sabres last season, stopped 25 shots and ran his unbeaten streak to five games.

Malarchuk was also in the nets Friday night in a 7-1 victory over Vancouver. The Sabres are 6-1-1 in their last eight games.

Pittsburgh 3, Boston 3--John Cullen scored with 5:20 left in regulation at Boston and the Penguins salvaged a tie behind Tom Barrasso’s strong goaltending.

Barrasso stopped 35 shots and made one spectacular save after another. Andy Moog of the Bruins had 30 saves, one on Mark Reechi’s breakaway in overtime.

St. Louis 6, Detroit 1--The big news at St. Louis as the Blues maintained first place in the Norris Division was that they scored six goals and 17-goal scorer Brett Hull didn’t have any of them.

The Blues are on a 10-1-1 run. Detroit is 0-7-3 on the road.

Hartford 3, Minnesota 2--Randy Cunneyworth scored 49 seconds into overtime at Bloomington, Minn., to end the Whalers’ eight-game winless streak.

A second-period brawl involved five players from each team, resulting in 86 penalty minutes.

Montreal 3, New Jersey 1--Shayne Corson scored twice and Patrick Roy stopped 30 shots at Montreal to beat the Devils, who have won one of their last six.

Chicago 5, Toronto 1--Steve Larmer scored twice and set up another at Toronto to lead the Blackhawks to an easy victory. Larmer has 15 goals.

Philadelphia 5, Quebec 2--Tim Kerr scored a goal and assisted on another at Quebec as the Flyers handed the Nordiques their ninth loss in a row.