NHL ROUNDUP : Canucks Surge Past Nordiques

Two former Soviet stars, accustomed to winning, are doing their part to lead the Vancouver Canucks to their first winning season in 16 years.

Igor Larionov and Pavel Bure led the Canucks to a 5-3 victory over the Nordiques Tuesday night at Quebec.

Larionov, 31, scored his 17th goal and had three assists, two of them setting up Bure for goals. Bure, who didn’t join the Canucks until the 15th game of the season, also had an assist.

With a 26-13-7 record, the Canucks are headed for their first winning season since they were 33-32-15 in 1975-76. With a 13-point lead in the Smythe Division, they also are moving toward their first division title.

Larionov, a star center on the Soviet National team for many years, is in his third NHL season. Playing on a winner, at last, is bringing out the best in Larionov.

Bure, a rookie considered one of the world’s best young players, has eight goals in 31 games.

“Pavel is going to be one of the great players,” Larionov said. “He has all the ability.”

St. Louis 5, Buffalo 4--Brett Hull increased his team-record scoring streak to 24 games, and Nelson Emerson scored a pair of goals for the Blues at St. Louis.

Hull scored his 48th goal in 47 games on a power play at 13:18 of the second period, taking a cross-ice pass from Brendan Shanahan and putting a wrist shot into the left corner of the net.

Edmonton 9, San Jose 2--Former King Bernie Nicholls scored twice during a six-goal third period at Edmonton as the Oilers broke open a close game.

The victory put the Oilers into a tie with the Kings for fourth place in the Smythe Division.

The Oilers led by only 3-2 after two periods, but Craig Simpson scored at 2:28 and the rout was on.

Detroit 7, Philadelphia 3--For one period the Flyers appeared in position to end their five-game road losing streak.

Philadelphia led by 2-1, but then Sergei Federov, the improving former Soviet star, took charge.

Federov scored his 16th goal and assisted on three others during a five-goal second period at Detroit that ended the Red Wings’ winless streak at three games.

Hartford 3, Winnipeg 3--The Jets took a 3-0 lead, then had to settle for the tie at Hartford when Bobby Holik scored his second goal late in the second period.