NHL ROUNDUP : Blues Get Rare Victory in New York

The St. Louis Blues have been struggling, but Brett Hull is doing his best to get them moving again.

Hull, far and away the best leading goal scorer in the NHL, scored his 44th Wednesday night at New York.

But it took a goal by Adam Oates, only his ninth, halfway through the last period to provide the 3-2 victory. It was the second victory in a row for the Blues but only their fifth in 50 games at Madison Square Garden.

The well-rested Rangers, who had a seven-game unbeaten streak, spotted the Blues an early 2-0 lead, then fought back to tie before Oates scored the winner.

The Rangers went more than half the game before Mike Gartner scored on a power play at 13:22 of the second period. Four minutes later, on another power play, they tied it.

The Blues moved to within five points of first-place Chicago in the Norris Division.

“We really needed these last two wins,” Hull, who scored two Tuesday night in beating New Jersey. “We’ve played some pretty good hockey but couldn’t come up with victories. It’s easy to get discouraged if this happens for too long a time.”

Detroit 5, Edmonton 3--The Oilers had been tearing up the Smythe Division, but their trip East is starting out badly.

After being beaten, 6-1, Tuesday night at Pittsburgh, the Oilers came back at Detroit to forge ahead, 3-2, in the third period.

The Red Wings’ Steve Yzerman tied the score at 7:02 with his second goal of the game. Then Sergei Fedorov, who assisted on Detroit’s first two goals, scored his 19th with 3:02 left to win it.

The Red Wings were playing without Coach Bryan Murray. Assistant coach Doug MacLean was in charge because Murray, also the general manager, was attending a meeting in Phoenix.

Montreal 4, New York Islanders 3--Brian Skrudland’s second goal of the game at 2:30 of overtime gave the Canadiens a hard-earned victory at Montreal.

The Islanders built leads of 2-0 and 3-1, but the Canadiens scored twice in the third period. Mike Keane scored the tying goal with four minutes left in regulation.

New York’s Pat LaFontaine left the game with stomach pains in the second period.