NHL ROUNDUP : Blackhawks Finally Douse the Flames, 5-3

There may be some people who think the Chicago Blackhawks are not as good as their fast start indicates.

Don’t count the Calgary Flames among the doubters.

Adam Creighton scored twice on the revitalized power play Saturday night at Calgary and the Blackhawks battled to a 5-3 victory over the Flames.

The Blackhawks, who have won five of their last six road games, have a 17-7-2 record. Their 36 points are the most in the National Hockey League.

Just a couple of years ago, any team in a slump looked forward to playing a Norris Division team. It is no longer the case.

The Blackhawks had not won at Calgary in 5 1/2 years. A crowd of 20,132 braved the season’s first snowstorm, expecting to see the Flames beat Chicago as usual.

But after a tight first period, the Blackhawks took a lead on Steve Larmer’s goal and took command on the first of Creighton’s two scores.

Boston 4, Hartford 3--For the second night in a row, the Bruins built a 3-0 lead and dominated for two periods. But Friday night on home ice they lost their cool and the Whalers scored four power-play goals in less than four minutes to pull out a win.

Once again, at Hartford, the Whalers rallied to tie, but the Bruins kept their cool.

Halfway through the third period, Ken Hodge Jr., son of an all-time Bruin great, scored his third NHL goal to break a tie and the Bruins earned a split.

Winnipeg 11, Quebec 4--Ed Olczyk was the only Jet to get two goals at Quebec as the Jets took shooting practice at the expense of the Nordiques.

The Nordiques, who lost 14 in a row before getting a tie Wednesday night with Hartford, are winless in their last 16 games.

Rookie Mats Sundin had a hat trick for Quebec.

New York Islanders 2, New York Rangers 2--The Rangers lead the Patrick Division and the Islanders are trailing it. But there wasn’t much to choose between them in this game at Uniondale, N.Y.

Brent Sutter tipped in a shot with 91 seconds left in regulation to get the Islanders a tie.

Edmonton 4, Toronto 1--Goaltender Kari Takko, taking over for injured Bill Ranford in the first period, got his first victory in the win at Toronto.

Craig Simpson had two goals to lead the Oilers.

Pittsburgh 3, Washington 2--Mark Recchi scored on a power play 71 seconds into overtime at Pittsburgh to end a three-game losing streak.

The Penguins, trounced Friday night by the Capitals, pulled even on Paul Coffey’s goal with 5:35 left in regulation.

New Jersey 5, Minnesota 3--The Devils were outshot, 42-22, at Bloomington, Minn., and outplayed most of the night, but they overcame a two-goal deficit to win.

A power-play goal by Claude Lemieux with 4:47 left in regulation put the Devils in front for the first time and they stayed there.

Vancouver 3, St. Louis 3--Greg Adams’ goal with 87 seconds left at St. Louis got the Canucks a tie.

Brett Hull’s league-leading 23rd goal gave the Blues a 3-1 lead halfway through the final period, but Brian Bradley cut the lead to one with six minutes left.