NHL ROUNDUP : Jets’ Defense Disappears in 8-4 Loss at Montreal

After the Winnipeg Jets pulled out of last place in the Smythe Division with a victory Tuesday night at Quebec, Coach Bob Murdoch offered some friendly advice.

All the Jets needed to do to move up in the Smythe Division was to tighten their defense.

Apparently, the advice fell on deaf ears.

The Jets’ defense was a sieve Wednesday night at Montreal, and the Canadiens skated to an easy 8-4 victory.

Mike McPhee scored 11 seconds after the opening faceoff to set the tone. Before the game was six minutes old, Stephane Richer had his 20th goal and Shayne Corson and Sylvain Turgeon scored to give Montreal a 4-0 lead.

Winnipeg left goaltender Rick Tabaracci in for a five-goal first period. Bob Essensa restored some order, but by that time, the Canadiens had their fifth victory in the last six games.

The Jets have not won in the Montreal Forum since March 14, 1983. They are 1-7-2 lifetime there.

Winnipeg had allowed only seven goals in its previous five games, but the Canadiens had seven in 41 minutes.

“I really thought after the way we played at Quebec that we were ready to make a move,” Murdoch said. “But we came out flat. And when Tabaracci gave the puck away in the opening seconds, it was the beginning of the end.”

Minnesota 5, Detroit 2--After scoring 55 goals last season, Brian Bellows of the North Stars set a goal of 60 for this season. A slump in which he had only two goals in 22 games ruined his hopes.

The slump is over. Bellows had two goals at Bloomington, Minn., Wednesday, has seven in the last nine games and the North Stars are 4-2-1 in the last seven. He has 19 for the season.

Steve Yzerman scored the Red Wings’ goals and has 36.

It was the fourth loss in a row since the All-Star break for the Red Wings.

Edmonton 9, Vancouver 4--Petr Klima had his biggest game of the season to lead the Oilers to an easy victory at Edmonton.

The veteran left wing from Czechoslovakia scored three goals and set up two others. It was the fourth loss in a row for the Canucks.

Calgary 5, New York Rangers 1--Mike Gartner spoiled Mike Vernon’s bid for a shutout at Calgary when he scored on a power-play with 76 seconds remaining.

However, the Flames, returning from a tough trip, scored an easy victory, their sixth in a row at home over the Rangers.