NHL ROUNDUP : Ruzicka Powers Bruins Past Penguins

Vladimir Ruzicka, another outstanding player from Eastern Europe, was slow to learn English and slower to adjust to the NHL.

Ruzicka, born in Most, Czechoslovakia, is making rapid strides both on and off the ice.

A 6-foot-3, 215-pound center, Ruzicka scored four goals and assisted on another Sunday at Boston to lead the Bruins to a 6-3 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins.

After Ruzicka set up Bobby Carpenter for the first goal of the game, the Penguins scored the next two goals.

During the second period, Ruzicka asserted himself. He scored twice and the Bruins took the lead. His last two goals simply made it an easier victory.

“A good game is playing up and down,” Ruzicka said in halting English after running his total to 34 goals. “Up and down, that’s the way they (the Penguins) play. I like hockey up and down. Lots of shots.”

Said Bruin Coach Rick Bowness: “He has his confidence right where it has to be for a world-class player,” Bowness said. “He feels he can do anything he wants out there, and there are times when it looks that way.”

New Bruin Adam Oates had two assists to increase his league lead to 63. He has four in two games with Boston.

New Jersey 2, Quebec 1--The Nordiques, who are winless in all 26 games they have played on the road, can’t even win at home these days.

Stephane Richer scored with 3:14 left to break a 1-1 tie. The Nordiques have lost four in a row at home and are in a 1-14-1 slump.

Washington 6, San Jose 2--John Druce had his first hat trick and Mike Ridley scored twice for the Capitals at Landover, Md.

Druce scored 48 seconds after the opening faceoff, again 11 minutes later and completed his three-goal game before the second period was three minutes old.

Hartford 4, Minnesota 4--Jim McKenzie scored twice as the Whalers rallied from a three-goal deficit for the tie at Hartford.

The Whalers extended their winless streak to 14 games.

New York Rangers 5, Detroit 5--Mike Gartner joined Bobby Hull and Phil Esposito as the only players in NHL history to get 30 goals in 13 consecutive seasons. Gartner’s 30th helped the Rangers get a tie at New York.

If Wayne Gretzky gets eight more goals this season, he will join the trio of record-holders.