NHL ROUNDUP : Quebec Finally Gets One for Road

Mats Sundin had five goals, but that wasn’t the big story for the Quebec Nordiques.

Quebec ended its 38-game road winless streak that lasted nearly a year by routing the Hartford Whalers, 10-4, Thursday night at Hartford, Conn.

“We finally got the road win off our backs and hopefully it’s not too late to catch Hartford for the last playoff spot,” said Owen Nolan, Sundin’s linemate, who had a goal and five assists. “Hopefully things will be more relaxed when we go on the road now.”

The Nordiques are 13 points behind the Whalers and have 15 games left. The Whalers have 16 remaining.

Quebec was 0-28-10 away from Le Colisee since beating the Whalers, 2-1, last March 10, one of the longest such streaks in league history, and were 0-25-8 on the road this season.

The Nordiques treated the victory rather nonchalantly as they gathered around goalie Stephane Fiset to congratulate him, but inside the locker room there was some yelling and screaming as they celebrated.

“It’s a big relief,” Sundin said. “We have to keep going and try to build on it.”

Sundin, whose five goals broke the Quebec record of four held by Peter Stastny and Michel Goulet, also had two assists. Linemate Valeri Kamensky added two goals and three assists.

Vancouver 2, Boston 2--Defenseman Gord Murphy scored his first goal in nearly two months at 5:12 of the third period to get the Bruins even with the Canucks at Boston.

The tie moved Vancouver, the Smythe Division leader with 80 points, to within one point of finishing the season above .500 for the first time in 15 years.

The Canucks also moved seven points ahead of the second place Kings.

Toronto 5, Calgary 5--The Maple Leafs scored twice in the final 22 seconds to salvage a tie with the Flames at Calgary.

Doug Gilmour scored with 22 seconds left, and Rob Pearson tied the score with nine seconds left.

U.S. Olympian Joe Sacco scored his third goal for Toronto.

Chicago 4, N.Y. Islanders 4--U.S. Olympian Scott Lachance scored at 12:34 of the third period, capping a three-goal rally that gave the Islanders a tie at Chicago.

Jeremy Roenick scored his 48th and 49th goals and set up linemate Steve Larmer’s 24th to help the Blackhawks take a 4-1 lead.

Minnesota 4, Detroit 2--Todd Elik had two goals and two assists and Mike Modano added two goals as the North Stars beat the Red Wings at Detroit.

The Red Wings have lost two consecutive games at home for the first time this season.