NHL ROUNDUP : Peeters Holds Off Rangers for Flyers, 5-1

Pete Peeters entered the season as the No. 3 goaltender of the Philadelphia Flyers. Because of injuries and age (33) he didn’t seem to have a great future in the NHL.

But, when injuries knocked out Ron Hextall (knee) and Ken Wregget (hip), Peeters became the Flyers’ only experienced goaltender.

Peeters stopped 34 shots Friday night at Philadelphia, and the Flyers beat the New York Rangers, 5-1, to pull within one point of the Rangers, leaders in the Patrick Division.

Peeters, in improving his record to 8-3-1, lost his shutout when the puck caromed off the skate of Ranger Troy Mallette and into the net in the last minute of the second period.

The Rangers fired 19 shots at Peeters in the last period but couldn’t score.

Rick Tocchet had two goals and Pelle Eklund three assists as the Flyers increased their unbeaten streak to six games (5-0-1).

“We wouldn’t be this close to the top if Pete had not played so well,” Coach Paul Holmgren of the Flyers said. “He has been sensational.”

Montreal 4, Washington 3--Andrew Cassels scored the tiebreaking goal with 5:33 left and the Canadiens earned a rare victory at Landover, Md.

The Canadiens went into the game with a 2-12-4 record at Capital Centre since 1979.

Cassels slipped behind defensemen Rod Langway and Mikhail Tatarinov and took a pass from Denis Savard. Cassels beat goalie Don Beaupre with a backhander.

Minnesota 4, Winnipeg 2--Former Jet Doug Smail banged in his own rebound at 5:23 of the second period to break a scoreless tie.

Smail, traded to the North Stars Nov. 7 after 10 years with the Jets, was given a rousing ovation when he came on the ice in his first Winnipeg appearance since the trade.

New Jersey 5, New York Islanders 5--Doug Brown’s second goal of the game with 2:50 left in regulation gave the Devils a tie at East Rutherford, N.J.

Outshot 27-16, the Islanders managed to build a 4-2 lead after two periods on only 12 shots.