NHL ROUNDUP : Ruzicka’s Power-Play Goal Lifts Bruins to 5-3 Victory

The Detroit Red Wings were looking forward to their traditional New Year’s Eve game at the Joe Louis Arena after a six-game trip.

But the charged-up Boston Bruins spoiled Detroit’s evening with a 5-3 victory Tuesday night.

Vladimir Ruzicka’s power-play goal in the third period broke a 3-3 tie, and Brent Ashton clinched it with his second goal of the game with 5:37 remaining.

The loss was Detroit’s third in 23 games (17-3-3), and Boston has won three of four.

N.Y. Rangers 5, Winnipeg 2--Mark Messier and Adam Graves scored two goals each as the Rangers won the eighth game in their last 10.

Winnipeg, which is winless in four games and 1-8-2 in its last 11, got a strong game in goal from Bob Essensa, who blocked 27 shots.

New Jersey 7, Pittsburgh 4--Valeri Zelepukin scored his first two NHL goals and Scott Stevens also scored twice at Pittsburgh as the Devils ended the Penguins’ four-game winning streak.

The Devils ended an 0-4-4 streak against Patrick Division opponents.

Minnesota 6, Chicago 2--Brian Bellows snapped out of an 18-game scoring slump with four goals as the North Stars continued their Met Center mastery of the Blackhawks.

The North Stars (16-16-3), who have won five of six games, pulled within four points of third-place Chicago in the Norris Division and have five games in hand. They are 5-0-1 against the Blackhawks at Met Center since Dec. 15, 1990.

Calgary 3, Montreal 2--Paul Ranheim scored his second goal of the game at 2:33 of overtime at Calgary to win it for the Flames.

Goalie Mike Vernon made 28 saves for the Flames. Roy finished with 17 saves, two in overtime.

Buffalo 4, St. Louis 3--Dale Hawerchuk’s tip-in keyed a three-goal burst in the third period as the Sabres rallied for a victory at Buffalo.

With the score tied, 2-2, Hawerchuk scored his 10th goal of the season after Colin Patterson’s shot from the high slot banked off the leg of St. Louis defenseman Paul Cavallini. The puck went to Hawerchuk at the side of the net, and he easily redirected it past Blues goalie Guy Hebert.