NHL ROUNDUP : Canadiens Are Hottest of the Hot

It was a matchup of the hottest teams in the NHL Wednesday night at New York, and Montreal emerged as the winner.

The Canadiens’ defense, led by goaltender Patrick Roy, stopped the Rangers cold and Montreal won, 4-1, for its ninth consecutive victory and a 13-3-1 record.

Tony Amonte spoiled Roy’s bid for a shutout when he knocked in a rebound at 7:41 of the second period as Roy sprawled on the ice after making a spectacular save. He had 32 saves. It was only the eighth goal scored by the opposition during the winning streak.

The Rangers had won six in a row and beat the Canadiens in Montreal a month ago.

But Stephan Lebeau had two goals, opening and closing the scoring, and the Canadiens continued to play the best hockey in the league.

Calgary 3, Hartford 2--Doug Gilmour slapped the puck between goaltender Kay Whitemore’s legs for the decisive goal in the first minute of the final period at Hartford.

The Whalers rallied from a 2-0 deficit on goals by Geoff Sanderson and Mark Hunter in the second period.

Toronto 4, Minnesota 3--Wendel Clark scored on a power-play before reinjuring his left knee at Toronto, and the goal provided the Maple Leafs with the victory.

The captain was hurt when he was knocked into the boards in the second period shortly after giving the Maple Leafs a 3-1 lead.

Brian Bellows had a hat trick for the North Stars.

Edmonton 5, New York Islanders 3--Vincent Damphouse scored twice in a four-goal second period at Edmonton for the Oilers.