NHL ROUNDUP : Quebec Finds Victory Coincides With Luck

For five weeks the Quebec Nordiques played some horrible hockey. And the few times they did play well, their luck was poor.

The Nordiques, after a victory Oct. 20 over Detroit, lost 14 in a row and went winless in 17 consecutive games.

Their luck changed for the better Wednesday night at Hartford. Two fluke goals helped Quebec squeeze out a 4-3 victory over the Whalers.

The first two Quebec goals were flukes. Claude Loiselle’s centering pass hit teammate Jamie Baker’s skate and slid between goalie Daryl Reaugh’s pads for a short-handed goal only 2:37 after the opening faceoff. Later in the period Guy Lafleur’s centering pass hit teammate Tony McKegney, who had fallen to the ice, in the helmet and caromed into the net.

Nordique goaltender Ron Tugnutt stopped 40 shots, and Hartford shots by Randy Cunneyworth and Terry Yake hit posts. With a chance to tie, Kevin Dineen, trying to guide a shot by Ulf Samuelson, knocked it just over the net.

Tugnutt stopped 16 shots in the last 18 minutes.

“It was about time we had a little luck,” Tugnutt said. “Maybe this is what we need to turn it around. I hope so.”

Washington 6, New York Rangers 3--Another long streak came to an end at New York. The Rangers (5-0-5) had not lost in their last 10 games.

But rookie Peter Bondra, who had only six goals in his first 22 NHL games, had a hat trick to lead the Capitals.

With Bondra’s three goals, the Capitals built a 6-1 lead by the middle of the third period.

Buffalo 2, Montreal 1--Mikko Makela’s eighth goal of the season early in the third period at Montreal enabled the struggling Sabres to get a much-needed victory.

The Canadiens, who have won only twice in their last six games, heard boos most of the night.

Philadelphia 5, New Jersey 5--Rick Tocchet scored his second goal of the game with 49 seconds left at East Rutherford, N.J., to climax the Flyer rally.

The Devils had a 5-2 lead with less than four minutes remaining, but rookie Darren Rumble and Terry Carkner scored to get the Flyers close.

Winnipeg 2, Calgary 2--The Jets spotted the Flames two first-period goals at Winnipeg, then battled back to get the tie.

New star Ed Olczyk got the tying goal on a power play in the first minute of the last period.