NHL ROUNDUP : Lemieux Hasn’t Lost Touch, Helps Penguins Win Again, 3-2

Despite his absence of nearly a year, Mario Lemieux hasn’t lost his touch around the net.

Lemieux, in his second game since last March, scored a key goal Tuesday night at Pittsburgh and the Penguins rallied to beat the Washington Capitals, 3-2, in overtime.

With a little more than five minutes remaining, Lemieux, from close range, knocked in the tying goal. Midway through the scheduled five-minute overtime, Paul Stanton scored to give the Penguins the victory.

The Penguins, who started to jell just before Lemieux rejoined them, have won both games Lemieux has played. Lemieux, who had three assists in his debut Saturday night, assisted on Bob Errey’s goal that cut an early deficit to 2-1.

Lemieux, who underwent back surgery last spring, made his first home appearance in 10 months with a capacity crowd of 16,164.

In his two games, the Penguins have scored nine goals and Lemieux has had a hand in five.

The victory left the Penguins three points out of first place in the tightening Patrick Division race.

Kelly Miller scored both goals for the Capitals, who played their fourth overtime in five games, winning two and tying one.

New York Islanders 8, Hartford 1--The Islanders have trouble winning at home, so a one-sided victory on the road is a shocker.

Pat LaFontaine got the first goal, and the Islanders scored six times in the second period.

Winnipeg 5, Quebec 2--Pat Elynuik and Pal MacDermid scored second-period power-play goals at Quebec and the Jets downed the hapless Nordiques.

Quebec, on a 1-9-2 skid, has the NHL’s worst record (10-33-9).

St. Louis 8, Buffalo 3--Brett Hull rested his sore left ankle, but Adam Oates set up three goals and the Blues breezed at St. Louis.