NHL ROUNDUP : Essensa Sharp as Jets Beat Oilers, Tie Canucks

In a game that was important only to Winnipeg, Phil Housley set two club records with a goal and an assist and goaltender Bob Essensa stopped 26 shots as the Jets beat the Edmonton Oilers, 3-0, Saturday night at Edmonton.

The victory pulled the Jets back into a tie with the Vancouver Canucks for the fourth and final playoff spot in the Smythe Division heading into the final week of the season. Each club has two games left, including a game against each other Thursday in Vancouver.

The Jets were coming off a 3-1 loss to Vancouver on Friday night.

Housley scored his 23rd goal of the season in the first period to break the club record for defensemen--22--set by Dave Ellett in 1988-89. He later set up Sergei Kharin’s goal less for his 75th point of the season, breaking the record for defensemen set by Dave Babych in 1982-83.

Essensa earned his fourth shutout of the season and second this year at Edmonton. He beat the Oilers, 1-0, in overtime Oct. 31.

Chicago 7, Pittsburgh 5--Bob McGill, Michel Goulet and Chris Chelios scored in a span of 1:27 in the second period to help the Blackhawks end the Penguins’ 14-game home unbeaten streak.

The Blackhawks extended their unbeaten streak to 6-0-1 and increased their NHL-leading point total to 99 as they handed the Penguins their first home loss since Jan. 3. Pittsburgh had been 13-0-1 at home since losing, 7-5, to the New York Rangers.

Philadelphia 7, New York Rangers 4--Pelle Eklund scored three goals and Rick Tocchet had two at Philadelphia as the Flyers handed the Rangers their eighth consecutive loss. They have not won since beating the Flyers on March 6.

The Flyers, winning for only the second time in nine games, stopped the Rangers on eight of nine power-play opportunities. New York entered the game with the NHL’s top-ranked power play.

Montreal 3, New Jersey 3--Guy Carbonneau scored a disputed goal with 3:51 remaining in the third period at Montreal to give the Canadiens the tie.

Carbonneau appeared to deflect Alain Cote’s shot under the crossbar. The goal light did not go on, but referee Paul Stewart immediately signaled that it was a goal. Television replays showed that the puck went in, but it looked to have touched goaltender Sean Burke’s stick, not Carbonneau’s.

St. Louis 3, New York Islanders 2--Brett Hull scored his league-leading 81st goal and Adam Oates had three assists as the Blues extended the Islanders’ winless streak to six games (0-5-1).

The victory at Uniondale, N.Y., enabled the Blues to remain two points behind first-place Chicago in the Norris Division. St. Louis improved its road record to 22-13-4, best in the NHL.

Boston 6, Buffalo 3--Cam Neely scored his 46th and 47th goals to lead the Bruins, who had 45 shots on Sabre goalies Darcy Wakaluk and Daren Puppa at Boston.

Boston was coming off a near-NHL-record 73 shots on goal in a 3-3 tie with Quebec Thursday night.

Quebec 7, Hartford 3--It was only the eighth home victory of the season for the Nordiques, who have the worst record in the league (15-48-13).

The Nordiques broke a 2-2 tie with five goals in the second period to complete their eight-game season series against Hartford with three victories, four ties and a loss.

Toronto 4, Detroit 1--Peter Ing stopped all 28 shots he faced at Toronto after replacing starter Jeff Reese, who injured his back, to lead the Maple Leafs, who had beaten the Red Wings, 3-1, Friday night at Detroit.