NHL ROUNDUP : Oilers Finally Get Their First Victory

It hasn’t been a rousing start of the season for the Edmonton Oilers. Even after beating the Blackhawks, 4-3, Thursday night at Chicago Stadium for their first victory of the season, the Oilers, at 1-4-1, are off to their worst start since joining the NHL in 1979-80.

The victory did not come until 2:06 into overtime when Craig Simpson got a 25-foot shot past goaltender Jim Waite.

Center Craig MacTavish, who set up Simpson’s game-winner, scored a shorthanded goal on a 3-on-1 break at 3:39 of the third period to tie the score, 3-3.

Forwards Brent Gilchrist and Shayne Corson, who were acquired from the Montreal Canadiens during the off-season, also scored for Edmonton.

Pittsburgh 5, Montreal 2--The NHL is talking about giving its players time to compete in the 1994 Olympics, and Canadien Coach Jacques Demers says he can save time on the selection process.

Said Demers: “The Dream Team is Lemieux.”

Mario Lemieux, who had a goal and two assists to beat the Canadiens at Pittsburgh, has 17 points in five games on six goals and 11 assists. He has had at least two points in every game this season, with two five-point games. Lemieux, Kevin Stevens and Jaromir Jagr have scored 14 of unbeaten Pittsburgh’s 24 goals this season.

Quebec 4, Detroit 2--Alexei Gusarov’s goal broke a third-period tie and helped lift the Nordiques’ record to 4-0-0 in the Red Wings’ home opener.

Ron Hextall, who made 18 saves, and Mike Ricci, who had two goals, were among the players who joined the Nordiques in the Eric Lindros trade.

“We have to thank Eric for this start,” Quebec’s Joe Sakic said. “We’ve gotten a lot better with all these guys than we would have with just one player.”

N.Y. Islanders 5, Philadelphia 4--Derek King, Ray Ferraro and Jeff Norton each had a goal and an assist as the Islanders gained their first victory of the season. The Islanders also had not won at the Spectrum since Nov. 21, 1987.

“There were so many weird goals on both sides,” Islander Coach Al Arbour said. “We were due for something good to happen.”

Toronto 5, Tampa Bay 3--Third-period goals by Todd Gill, Mike Krushelnyski and Nikolai Borschevsky lifted the Maple Leafs to their first victory in the game at Toronto.

The Lightning took a 3-2 lead into the final period before Gill tied it at 4:51 with a slap shot from the Tampa Bay blue line. Krushelnyski gave the Leafs (1-2-1) the lead when he lifted a backhander over fallen goaltender Wendell Young at 6:57.

The Leafs, however, continued to have problems with their power play. They were 0 for 8 with a man advantage against Tampa Bay and are three for 30 for the season.

Toronto Star writer Bob McKenzie said Tampa Bay General Manager Phil Esposito took a swing at him after the game, striking McKenzie on the upper arm with a glancing blow. “He tried to deny me access to the dressing room and I have a right to access,” McKenzie said. “It’s in the hands of the police now.”

Minnesota 5, St. Louis 4--Gaetan Duchesne broke a second-period tie and added an empty-net goal as the North Stars won at St. Louis. Each team had three power-play goals. Duchesne’s first goal was the first of the game at even strength and put Minnesota ahead, 4-3. Brett Hull scored a goal, his first in four games.

Boston 8, San Jose 2--The Bruins’ Dimitri Kvartalnov scored the second of his two goals at 7:49 of the second period to break a 2-2 tie at San Jose.

Boston outshot the Sharks, 44-20.