NHL ROUNDUP : Bruins Take Control in Montreal

Before they lost to the Edmonton Oilers in the final round of the Stanley Cup last spring, the Boston Bruins were convinced they were the best team in hockey.

Their goal this season has been to improve enough to win the Stanley Cup.

They have the best record and they have just about convinced the Montreal Canadiens that they are the best team in the Adams Division.

With Craig Janney and John Carter scoring unassisted goals only 11 seconds apart Wednesday night at Montreal, Boston again trounced the Canadiens, 7-4.

The Bruins have won nine of their last 11 and have a 35-18-8 record and 78 points.

With one game left between them, the Bruins are 4-2-1 against the Canadiens and have won the last two in Montreal.

New York Rangers 6, New Jersey 3--Mike Gartner scored a goal in his seventh consecutive game and the Rangers jumped in front early at New York. The Rangers increased their Patrick Division lead to eight points.

Gartner has 43 goals in 70 games since being acquired by the Rangers late last season.

Hartford 6, Detroit 2--Ron Francis had a hat trick and had two assists at Hartford, Conn., to lead the Whalers.

Two of his goals came only 82 seconds apart.

The Whalers’ finally reached .500 after five unsuccessful tries in the last two months.

Philadelphia 6, Toronto 3--Rick Tocchet came back from his injury with two goals at Toronto to lead the Flyers.

Tocchet had missed five games with a groin injury. He is the Flyers’ leading scorer with 36 goals.

Minnesota 6, Buffalo 6--Dale Hawerchuk scored his 400th goal and Mikko Makela scored twice at Buffalo as the Sabres rallied to tie.

The Sabres are unbeaten in their last four games--although only one was a victory.