NHL ROUNDUP : Road Becomes Long for Canucks

It had been a successful trip East, the Vancouver Canucks having won three games. But fatigue set in Wednesday night at East Rutherford, N.J.

Claude Lemieux had the second hat trick of his career and added an assist to help the New Jersey Devils build a 7-1 lead and romp to a 9-4 victory.

Lemieux opened the scoring on his first shift, set up a goal on his second and scored again before the end of the period. When he scored at 4:24 of the second period, the Devils were in command.

It was a complete reversal for the Canucks, who had yielded only five goals in the previous four games, which included victories at Toronto, Winnipeg and Uniondale, N.Y., over the Islanders.

“We had a tough game against the Islanders last night,” Coach Bob McCammon of the Canucks said. “And we seemed to be flat tonight.

“In some ways, though, I think it’s easier to play on the road. At home, players tend to be more individual (in style) than they are on the road.”

Washington 3, Pittsburgh 1--While the Canucks’ road streak ended, Washington enjoyed its trip to Pittsburgh.

Michal Pivonka scored a first-period goal and assisted on another. The Capitals, 6-2 in their last eight games, wrapped it up when Kelly Miller scored a short-handed goal in the third period.

Pivonka’s 10th goal came on the Capitals’ first shot at 4:36.

The Penguins, fifth in the Patrick Division, are battling another slump. They have lost four of their last five.

“We win a few games, we’ll be right up there with the Flyers and Rangers,” Pivonka said.

Edmonton 3, Quebec 2--The Oilers continue to streak with Mark Messier. He had a goal and an assist as Edmonton scored three times in the first period at home, then held on to beat the Nordiques.

Quebec’s unbeaten streak ended at four games, but not before it cut the lead to a goal with more than four minutes left.

It was the third victory in a row for the Stanley Cup champions, who are 8-3 since Messier came off the disabled list.

“I’m just starting to hit my stride,” Messier said.

Calgary 4, New York Rangers 1--Theoren Fleury had a hat trick, including the tiebreaking score in the third period at Calgary.

The Flames stretched their unbeaten string to four games (2-0-2), but the teams were tied until Fleury’s second goal of the game and 15th of the season early in the third period.

Montreal 4, Hartford 3--Stephane Richer scored on a 10-foot wrist shot with 4:23 remaining to give the Canadiens a victory on the road.

Six minutes earlier Hartford tied the score on Todd Krygier’s 25-foot slap shot from the slot.

The Whalers, who have won five in a row on the road, are 0-4-1 in their last five home games.

Minnesota 3, Toronto 2--In a lower-echelon Norris Division game at Toronto, the North Stars prevailed.

Defenseman Mark Tinordi scored with 4:22 remaining in regulation to break a 2-2 tie.

With the victory, the fourth-place North Stars widened their lead over Toronto to nine points.

In the absence of Coach Bob Gainey, whose wife underwent surgery to remove a brain tumor, assistants Doug Jarvis and Andy Murray coached the Stars.