NHL ROUNDUP : Ferraro Wins It for Islanders

Ray Ferraro is on a scoring spree, and the New York Islanders finally took advantage of it Wednesday night at Toronto.

Ferraro’s second goal of the game came with 1:50 remaining in regulation to give the Islanders a 5-4 victory.

Tuesday night at home against St. Louis, Ferraro had a hat trick in the second period to give the Islanders a 5-2 lead. But they had to settle for a 7-7 tie.

Until getting five goals in the last two games, Ferraro had only nine goals in 26 games.

“We have to get better on defense if we are going to make a move,” Ferraro said. “We have given up 22 goals in the last four games. You are putting a burden on your team when you have to score seven goals just to get a tie.”

On the winning goal, Pat Flatley passed to Benoit Hogue, who broke in with Ferraro on goalie Grant Fuhr with only defenseman Bob Rouse back to help. Hogue waited, then slipped the puck to Ferraro, who steered it into the open net.

St. Louis 6, Buffalo 3--The Blues didn’t have as much offense in Buffalo as they had the night before in Uniondale, N.Y., but they played better defense.

Brendan Shanahan scored two goals to lead the Blues.

The Blues, who moved into second place in the Norris Division, won for the first time on the road since Nov. 1.

After the game, the Sabres fired Coach Rick Dudley.