NHL ROUNDUP : Quick Work in Overtime Beats Oilers

The other teams in the National Hockey League are showing no mercy to the Stanley Cup champion Edmonton Oilers.

It was the Sabres’ turn to beat up Edmonton on Friday night at Buffalo, but they had to go overtime to get a 3-2 victory. The loss dropped the Oilers, last in the Smythe Division, to 5-13-2.

When Mike Foligno scored near the middle of the third period, it appeared the Sabres, who dominated throughout, had their victory. But, with less than six minutes remaining in regulation, Jeff Smith’s shot caromed off an Oilers’ skate into the net.

The Sabres set up right after the overtime faceoff. Benoit Hogue took a pass from Rick Vaive and sent a low shot between the legs of goaltender Bill Ranford after only 34 seconds had elapsed.

Detroit 5, St. Louis 3--The Norris Division has been a two-team race between Chicago and the Blues. But rookie Johan Garpenio is doing his part to get the Red Wings into the battle.

After getting the winning goal for the Red Wings Wednesday night, he came right back at Detroit to score four and lead them to their second victory in a row.

Garpenio, 22, has nine goals and has moved the Red Wings (10-10-3) to within 11 points of first place.

Hartford 4, Boston 3--Until they started making mistakes in the third period, the Bruins had everything under control and had a 3-0 lead at Boston.

But Cam Neely and John Carter used their sticks illegally, received five-minute penalties and gave the Whalers renewed hope.

Ron Francis scored the first of four power-play goals in fewer than four minutes when the Bruins were two men short at 8:17. Pat Verbeeck scored the next two and, at 11:51, Francis put the Whalers ahead to stay.

Philadelphia 4, Toronto 1--Scott Mellanby woke the slumbering Flyers with a power-play goal early in the third period at Philadelphia.

The goal broke a 1-1 tie and the Flyers went on to hand the Maple Leafs their fourth consecutive loss. The Leafs are winless in their 10 games on the road.

Pete Peeters, who had to leave Wednesday’s game at Pittsburgh after being hit in the head, returned to play a strong game in the nets for the Flyers.

Washington 7, Pittsburgh 3--Steve Leach scored two goals 10 seconds apart and the Capitals scored three goals in 21 seconds in the first period at Landover, Md., for an early rout.

Leach scored the fastest two goals ever by a Capitals’ player. Dennis Maruk did in 11 seconds in 1982.

Minnesota 6, Vancouver 4--Brian Bellows broke out of a slump with a hat trick at Bloomington, Minn., and the North Stars ended a six-game winless streak.

The six goals tied the biggest output of the season for the North Stars.