NHL ROUNDUP : Buffalo Gets Quick Payoff in Trade for LaFontaine

Pat LaFontaine needed just one game to show why the Buffalo Sabres traded for him.

LaFontaine, who was acquired on Friday from the New York Islanders and signed a multiyear contract with the Sabres hours before game time Sunday night, scored one goal and assisted on two others to lead his new team to a 5-1 victory over the Hartford Whalers at Buffalo.

LaFontaine had requested to be traded from the Islanders and hadn’t played since leading Team USA to the finals of the Canada Cup last month.

The Sabres, who outshot Hartford, 43-25, won their second game in a row while the Whalers lost for the second time in two nights after a five-game winning streak.

Winnipeg 6, Washington 5--Ed Olczyk scored the tie-breaking goal at 8:04 of the third period at Winnipeg as the Jets recovered after blowing a three-goal lead.

Washington overcame a 4-1 first-period deficit to lead 5-4 after two periods. But Stu Barnes scored his second goal on a power play to tie it before Olczyk knocked down Fredrick Olausson’s shot and whipped it past Mike Liut from the slot to hand the Capitals their second loss in a row.

Boston 6, Chicago 3--Ray Bourque scored two goals and had an assist at Chicago as the Bruins extended their domination over the Blackhawks.

Boston improved to 13-1-1 in its past 15 meetings with Chicago.

Bourque beat Dominik Hasek from the deep slot just 36 seconds into the game for a 1-0 lead. Chicago tied it at 1:35 when Steve Larmer picked off a clearing pass and fed Jeremy Roenick, who stuffed the puck past Andy Moog.

Edmonton 6, Vancouver 3--Joe Murphy scored a goal and had two assists at Vancouver as the Oilers handed the Canucks their third loss of the season.

Esa Tikkanen, who had an assist on Murphy’s goal in the first period, also scored in the second while Edmonton was building a 6-1 lead.