NHL ROUNDUP : Oilers Continue to Surge With Messier, Beat Flyers

It might be too early to dismiss the Edmonton Oilers’ chances of repeating as Stanley Cup champions.

In the absence of such stalwarts as high-scoring Jari Kurri and outstanding goaltender Grant Fuhr, the Oilers were slow out of the gate. When Mark Messier, their leader, suffered a knee injury in the fifth game, the problems multiplied.

They lost nine in a row and when Messier came back they were 2-11-2.

Now the Oilers and are showing signs of becoming a contender.

Messier scored the decisive goal midway through the third period Sunday at Philadelphia and the Oilers stopped the Flyers, 6-3.

Messier’s power-play goal broke a 3-3 tie and the Oilers ended the Flyers’ unbeaten streak at six games (5-0-1).

The Oilers are 7-3 since Messier rejoined the club and are on the verge of escaping the cellar in the Smythe Division.

Quebec 5, Calgary 5--The resurgence of the Nordiques is for real. They scored twice in the last eight minutes at Quebec to earn a tie and extend their unbeaten streak to four games.

Vancouver 5, Winnipeg 1--Greg Adams and Trevor Linden each scored twice at Winnipeg to lead the Canucks past the Jets.

Detroit 3, Buffalo 3--The Sabres pulled their goaltender in a desperate effort for a tie at Buffalo and Dale Andreychuk came through with 21 seconds to play.

Chicago 3, St. Louis 2--Brett Hull scored his 26th goal on a 75-foot shot at Chicago, but he couldn’t prevent the Blues from extending their winless streak to six games (0-4-2).