NHL ROUNDUP : Jets Hold On, Snuff Flames’ Hopes

The Winnipeg Jets had to wait 10 days to clinch the final playoff spot in the Smythe Division, then almost blew it.

Ed Olczyk’s second goal of the game and 31st of the season gave the Jets a 4-0 lead four minutes into the final period, and they held on for a 4-3 victory over the Calgary Flames Sunday night at Winnipeg.

After Gary Roberts’ back-to-back goals 48 seconds apart, the Flames trailed by a goal with 92 seconds to play.

Three years ago, the Flames won the Stanley Cup and they were talking about a dynasty. Now, for the first time since 1975, they won’t be in the playoffs.

The Jets’ Richard Tabaracci stopped 27 shots, 16 during the first period.

Edmonton 6, San Jose 4--In an effort to keep the pressure on the Kings in the battle for second place in the Smythe Division, the Oilers turned loose their high-scoring line of Joe Murphy, Vince Damphousse and Bernie Nicholls at Edmonton.

The three accounted for 11 points and the Oilers turned back the stubborn expansion team.

Detroit 2, Chicago 1--The strike layoff only sharpened Red Wing goaltender Tim Chevaldae.

The Blackhawks, on home ice, peppered Chevaldae all night long from all angles.

He stopped 38 shots, 16 during the first period. He finally lost his shutout when Stephane Matteau scored seven minutes into the final period.

“The first couple of hours back on the ice you feel a little awkward,” Chicago’s Stu Grimson said of the strike ending. “But you start to get your skating legs back, and it feels good.”

Said Chicago Coach Mike Keenan: “We had an outstanding game defensively except for the first couple of shifts, and it cost us the hockey game.”

Minnesota 1, St. Louis 1--Early in the game at Bloomington, Minn., the North Stars learned that Toronto had lost and the Stars had clinched a playoff spot.

But with Jon Casey playing brilliantly in the nets, the Stars hung on for the tie.

The only goal Casey gave up was Brett Hull’s 300th, his 68th of the season. Hull scored with the Blues shorthanded with 1:23 to play in the first period.

Only Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux reached 300 faster than Hull.

Buffalo 3, Montreal 1--Although the game didn’t mean much to either team, they engaged in a penalty-filled game at Buffalo that lasted 3 hours 20 minutes.

Dave Andreychuk scored his 40th and 41st goals to lead the Sabres, who will open the playoffs at Boston.

The Canadiens will play Hartford in the first series.

Washington 4, New Jersey 3--Peter Bondra scored at 2:15 of overtime at East Rutherford, N.J., to spoil the return of the Devils to the ice.

It was a flop in a couple of ways for the Devils. They needed a victory to take over third place in the Patrick Division and only 9,374 showed up to cheer them.

New York Islanders 6, Toronto 2--There was a measure of satisfaction for the Islanders in returning to action at Toronto.

With Pierre Turgeon getting his 40th goal and Mark Fitzpatrick stopping 37 shots, the Islanders knocked the Maple Leafs out of the playoffs.

By losing three of their last four games, the Leafs have failed to make the playoffs for two years in a row. The Islanders were eliminated earlier.

Hartford 4, Philadelphia 2--The Whalers tuned up for next weekend’s start of the playoffs with a victory at Hartford.

Although 10,456 tickets were sold for the game, only about 6,500 attended.

Boston 1, Quebec 1--The smallest Boston crowd in four seasons, 12,823, turned out for this game.

Adam Oates scored his 20th goal to get the Bruins a tie against the Nordiques, whose season will end Wednesday night.