NHL ROUNDUP : LeBlanc Is Sent Down; Blackhawks Lose, 7-1

Maybe the Chicago Blackhawks were a bit premature in sending goaltender Ray LeBlanc back to the minors.

The star of the U.S. Olympic team filled in for No.1 goalie Ed Belfour on Tuesday night and led the Blackhawks to a victory over San Jose. He was sent back to Indianapolis Wednesday.

When the Blackhawks were pounded, 7-1, by the Rangers Wednesday night at New York, it was obvious they needed help in the nets, for this game, at least.

Belfour, returning after missing a game to attend the birth of his second child, lasted only a period, giving up three goals. Backup goalie Dominik Hasek was only a slight improvement in the last two periods.

Mike Gartner had his 16th hat trick to lead the assault on the two goalies. He enabled the Rangers to take a five-point lead over Washington in the Patrick Division.

LeBlanc, in his first NHL game after eight seasons in the minors, faced 22 shots and shut out the Sharks for two periods in a 5-1 victory.

Chicago management said the main reason for bringing LeBlanc up was so he would be eligible for the expansion draft next summer.

He posted a 5-2-1 record with a goals-against average of 2.20 in the Winter Games.

Quebec 5, Montreal 4--Greg Paslawski scored twice and Joe Sakic had three assists at Quebec to enable the Nordiques to stretch their unbeaten streak to five games.

The Canadiens, who were 4-0-2 in the previous six meetings with Quebec, are runaway leaders of the Adams Division. They had lost only once in their last 13 games.

However, the Nordiques did not improve their chances of making the playoffs. They trail Hartford by 10 points with 12 games remaining.

“I was impressed by the Nordiques,” Montreal Coach Pat Burns said. “We lacked discipline, but give the Nordiques credit. They probably worked as hard as any team we’ve played this season.”

Toronto 3, Minnesota 0--Grant Fuhr reached back to former greatness for this game at Bloomington, Minn.

Fuhr, who led Edmonton to several Stanley Cups, stopped 34 shots and recorded his second shutout of the season.

It was a crucial victory for the Maple Leafs, who trail Minnesota by six points in competition for the last playoff spot in the Norris Division.

Mike Krushelnyski was credited with the only goal Fuhr needed in the middle of the second period. His centering pass deflected off the skate of Minnesota defenseman Mark Tinordi into the net.

Buffalo 6, Boston 3--The Bruins’ skid continued at Buffalo.

Pat LaFontaine and Dave Andreychuk scored on power plays in the second period, and the Sabres kept Boston winless in the last five games.

LaFontaine’s goal was his 38th of the season and it tied the score, 2-2. Andreychuk put the Sabres in front to stay.

Winnipeg 3, San Jose 0--Former Jet captain Lucien DeBlois made an auspicious return to Winnipeg.

DeBlois, reacquired from Toronto Tuesday night, arrived just in time to play and scored the first goal 14 minutes into the second period.

Goalie Stephane Beauregard stopped 20 shots to move the Jets four points ahead of Calgary in the fight for the final playoff berth in the Smythe Division.

Edmonton 2, New Jersey 2--The Oilers needed a victory at Edmonton to close in on the Kings in the battle for second place in the Smythe Division.

They pulled even on Kelly Buchberger’s shorthanded goal midway through the final period, but they couldn’t score on the only four shots in overtime.

Craig Simpson also scored for the Oilers, who trail the Kings by seven points.

Edmonton, with 11 games remaining, is only four points ahead of fourth-place Winnipeg.