NHL ROUNDUP : Flames Rally, Bring Down Jets, 5-3

The Winnipeg Jets, after losing four consecutive games to the Kings, showed they are playing no favorites in the fight for the Smythe Division title.

The Jets, after playing the Calgary Flames even for two periods Tuesday night, actually pulled ahead at the start of the final period at Calgary.

But the Flames scored three consecutive goals to win, 5-3, and keep the pressure on the Kings.

Thomas Steen scored for the Jets 15 seconds into the final period. The lead lasted barely a minute before Gary Suter scored to tie the score, 3-3.

Paul Fenton, who spent part of the 1988-89 season with the Kings, put the Flames ahead to stay with his 12th goal at 4:20. Midway through the period, Ric Nattress scored his fifth goal and victory was safe.

The Flames have won seven of eight games and have lost only twice in 17 games.

Pittsburgh 4, Montreal 4--The Penguins crept closer to the Patrick Division lead, but werehard-pressed to get a tie at Pittsburgh.

The Canadiens dominated early, building a 4-2 lead. But James Leach scored his first goal of the season and Kevin Stevens added his 33rd late in the second period to get the Penguins even.

The Penguins trail the New York Rangers by three points with nine games remaining.

Hartford 3, Washington 2--John Cullen and Terry Yake scored 57 seconds apart in the second period at Landover, Md., and the Whalers ended their nine-game winless streak.

The Whalers swept of the season series (3-0) with the Capitals.

The Capitals, who had a five-game unbeaten string stopped, needed a victory to reach .500.

The loss at home was a blow to Washington’s playoff hopes. They remained tied with New Jersey for the final spot in the Patrick Division.

Minnesota 5, Buffalo 2--Dave Gagner and the North Stars are thriving at home.

Gagner scored his 37th goal and the North Stars won their fourth in a row at Bloomington, Minn., their longest winning streak of the season.

The North Stars are 10-0-2 in their last 12 home games. Gagner has scored in 15 consecutive games, getting nine goals and 21 assists.

Jon Casey stopped 30 shots for his 19th victory. The Stars are 12-4-5 in their last 21games.

Toronto 4, Quebec 3--In a game between the teams with the worst records in the NHL, Peter Zezel scored halfway through the final period to give the Maple Leafs the victory at Quebec.

The defeat gives the Nordiques a nine-point margin over the Leafs in the bid for the first pick in the draft. The choice is expected to be junior Eric Lindros.