NHL ROUNDUP : Lindros’ First Goal Helps Flyers Tie Penguins, 3-3

Eric Lindros got only two shots in his first professional game, but scored an unassisted goal on the second one to spark a rally that gave the Philadelphia Flyers a 3-3 tie with the Pittsburgh Penguins at Pittsburgh on Tuesday night.

The Flyers trailed, 3-1, but Lindros started the rally when he intercepted Jaromir Jagr’s pass and put the puck past Tom Barrasso 31 seconds into the third period. Doug Evans tied the score with a goal from the side of the net 48 seconds later.

“It certainly wasn’t a top-notch (performance),” Lindros said. “I panicked a couple of times out on the ice, but that is to be expected.

“I think I have to start shooting the puck a little more. This was a lot different than the preseason,” said Lindros, who led the Flyers with eight goals in exhibitions.

Lindros skated on the newly named Crazy Eights Line with wingers Mark Recchi and Brent Fedyk. Lindros wears No. 88, while Recchi is No. 8 and Fedyk is No. 18.

Mario Lemieux, who signed a seven-year contract on Monday worth $42 million, had a goal and an assist for the Penguins, who are seeking their third consecutive Stanley Cup.

Scotty Bowman, who signed a contract only hours before the game, was behind the bench for the Penguins.

Lemieux scored the first goal of the NHL season 46 seconds into the game, and Kevin Stevens gave the Penguins a 2-0 lead with a power-play goal at 5:34.

Fedyk scored at 15:07 to cut Pittsburgh’s lead to 2-1 after one period, but Tocchet restored the two-goal margin when he converted a pass from Lemieux.

Dominic Roussel, who took over as the Flyers’ No. 1 goalie after Ron Hextall was traded to Quebec in the Lindros deal last June, made 42 saves and kept the Penguins scoreless over the last 24:09.

Vancouver 5, Edmonton 4--Pavel Bure’s goal with 5:45 to play lifted the Canucks over the Oilers at Edmonton.

The Canucks took a 4-2 lead on Jyrki Lumme’s shot at 4:05 of the third period, but the Oilers tied the score on goals by Brent Gilchrist and Dave Manson.

St. Louis 6, Minnesota 4--Brett Hull and Dave Lowry each scored two goals as the Blues beat the North Stars in a successful coaching debut for Bob Plager at St. Louis.

Brendan Shanahan had a goal and an assist, Craig Janney added three assists and goaltender Curtis Joseph made 42 saves for the Blues.

Winnipeg 4, Detroit 1--Bob Essensa made 39 saves and rookie Teemu Selanne had two assists as the Jets beat the Red Wings at Winnipeg.

Detroit’s Sergei Fedorov scored at 5:36 of the second period, but Winnipeg already had a three-goal lead. Keith Tkachuk, Thomas Steen, Mike Lalor and Phil Housley scored for the Jets.

Washington 6, Toronto 5--Kevin Hatcher scored with 4:24 to play at Toronto and the Capitals spoiled Pat Burns’ debut as the Maple Leafs’ coach.

The Capitals went ahead, 5-4, on a goal by Todd Krygier at 7:32 of the final period. Toronto tied the score on a goal by Joe Sacco at 12:46.

Montreal 5, Hartford 1--Denis Savard had a goal and two assists and Kirk Muller had a goal and an assist as the Canadiens beat the Whalers at Hartford in Jacques Demers’ coaching debut for Montreal.

Patrick Roy held Hartford scoreless until Murray Craven scored with 4:59 remaining before only 10,184, more than 5,000 below capacity at the Hartford Civic Center.

New Jersey 4, N.Y. Islanders 3--Scott Stevens and Bobby Holik scored 1:19 apart as the Devils won in Herb Brooks’ New Jersey debut at East Rutherford, N.J.

Alexander Semak and Zdeno Ciger added goals to give the Devils a 4-1 lead over the Islanders after two periods.