NHL ROUNDUP : Flames Help Kings, Beat Edmonton, 5-2, at Calgary

The Kings owe the Calgary Flames a vote of thanks.

The Flames knocked off Edmonton, 5-2, Tuesday night at Calgary, to keep the Oilers two points behind the Kings with two games to play.

If the regular season is completed, the Kings, by winning their two remaining games against division-winner Vancouver, can assure themselves of second place and home-ice advantage in the first round of postseason play.

Gary Roberts scored twice for the Flames to reach a personal-best 51 goals.

Although the Flames have only a faint chance to make the playoffs, they are 4-1-1 in their last six games.

The victory put the Flames, the fifth-place team in the Smythe Division, four points behind Winnipeg in the battle for the last playoff position.

Minnesota 5, Buffalo 3--The North Stars battled their way to victory at Bloomington, Minn., to take a four-point lead over Toronto in competition for the last playoff spot in the Norris Division.

There were 360 penalty minutes in the game. Referee Andy Van Hellemond handed out 24 misconduct penalties.

Pittsburgh 6, Philadelphia 5--Although he missed 14 games, Mario Lemieux has nailed down another scoring title.

His 44th goal and three assists in a game at Pittsburgh gave him 132 points in 63 games. Whether the season ends today or not, Lemieux will win his third scoring title.

One of the goals Lemieux didn’t have a hand in was Grant Jennings’ second of the game, and fourth of the season, which broke a 5-5 tie with less than six minutes to play.

The victory enabled the Penguins to tie New Jersey for third place in the Patrick Division.

Boston 5, Quebec 4--Adam Oates scored two goals at Quebec, then set up the game-winner for Brent Hughes with 36 seconds remaining in overtime.

The goal was the first of the season for Hughes, obtained from Washington Feb. 24. He spent most of the season in the minors.

Detroit 3, Chicago 3--Shawn Burr’s goal with 2:35 left in regulation at Detroit enabled the Red Wings to tie the Blackhawks.

Burr tipped Sergei Fedorov’s shot over goaltender Ed Belfour’s shoulder into the net for his 19th goal.