NHL ROUNDUP : Flyers, Penguins Fight to a Draw in 3-3 Tie

Mario Lemieux, recently critical of the roughhousing in the NHL, was involved in a full-scale brawl Sunday night at Philadelphia.

With 16 seconds left in overtime and the Pittsburgh Penguins in a 3-3 tie with the Flyers, Lemieux and Al Conroy of the Flyers began arguing, then started pushing and shoving.

The other eight skaters on the ice joined in. Although no big blows were landed, the fight lasted more than five minutes.

Lemieux, Conroy and the other eight participants were given game misconduct penalties. When play was resumed, the game concluded in a 3-3 tie.

In his recent tirade for which he was fined $1,000, Lemieux called the NHL “a garage league” that permitted too much clutching and grabbing.

It was Lemieux’s second game back after missing six games with more back trouble. He assisted on both goals by Joe Mullen.

The tie ended the Stanley Cup champions’ four-game losing streak but did not strengthen their grip on fourth place in the Patrick Division. The Penguins, 1-7-2 in their last 10 games, lead the Flyers and New York Islanders by six points.

Although Lemieux declined to comment on the brawl, Coach Scotty Bowman, noting the slump, said: “We’ve been hurt by a lot of things. Maybe we’ve hurt ourselves.”

The Flyers have surged from deep last place to within striking distance of the final playoff spot. They have lost only one of their last 17 games (10-1-6).

Rick Tocchet knocked in a rebound on a power play near the middle of the third period to get the Flyers even.

Toronto 7, Edmonton 5--Former King Mike Krushelnyski gave his former mates a bit of help at Toronto.

The big winger scored the first goal in a four-goal third period that brought the Maple Leafs from behind.

In the scramble for playoff positions in the Smythe Division, the second consecutive loss for the Oilers after six victories in a row, slowed their drive to overtake the Kings.

The Kings, tied with Winnipeg for second place behind stumbling Vancouver, are two points ahead of Edmonton with two games in hand.

Wendel Clark and Lucien DeBlois scored goals 23 seconds apart for Toronto in the last period.

New Jersey 4, New York Rangers 2--The Rangers and Washington Capitals have been so busy knocking each other out of first place in the Patrick Division, they didn’t see the Devils sneaking into contention.

Chris Terreri made some magnificent saves among his 29 and the Devils held off a desperate third period rally to move within eight points of first place.

Claude Lemieux assisted on Valeri Zalupekin’s winning goal in the third period, then clinched the Devils’ fifth consecutive victory with an empty net goal.

“We’re the hunter, they know that,” Devils Coach Tom Mcvie said. “They wanted it just as much as we did. They have something we want--first place.”

Buffalo 5, Hartford 4--Alexander Mogliny scored twice at Buffalo and the Sabres strengthened their hold on third place in the Adams Division.

The Whalers, who trail the Sabres by 14 points, made it close when defenseman Zarley Zalapski scored with three minutes left, but couldn’t get the tie.

A penalty left the Whalers a man short the last two minutes.

Chicago 5, Calgary 5--The Blackhawks’ Michel Goulet became the 17th NHL player to score 500 goals, but Gary Roberts scored with 72 seconds left in regulation to give the Flames a tie.