NHL ROUNDUP : Penguins’ Stevens: Four Goals in 7-3 Win

The straightest shooter in the NHL? Sar far this season, it has been Kevin Stevens of the Pittsburgh, who scored four times to take the NHL goal-scoring lead and power the unbeaten Penguins to a 7-3 victory over the Whalers on Saturday night at Hartford.

Stevens, who has taken more shots than anyone in the NHL--40--and scored more goals--nine--said getting one on his first shot of the game gave him some confidence.

“When the puck goes in early you can get it rolling and have an opportunity to have a big night,” he said.

Stevens scored twice in the first period as the Penguins (4-0-2) took control with four goals in a span of 8:57. Stevens connected twice in 80 seconds in the second as he scored four goals for the second time in his career. He also assisted on Rick Tocchet’s goal at 8:28 of the third period.

Mario Lemieux had a goal and an assist to increase his league-leading scoring total to 19 points.

Montreal 8, Minnesota 1--The improved offense that Montreal Coach Jacques Demers had been searching for finally showed up. Rookie defenseman Patrice Brisebois had two goals and Kirk Muller added four assists as the Canadiens routed the North Stars at Montreal.

Montreal also got goals from Benoit Brunet, Jean-Jacques Daigneault, John LeClair, Brian Bellows, Stephan Lebeau and Kevin Haller.

Washington 6, Buffalo 4--The Capitals’ defense at Capital Centre was the big story in a rare victory over the Sabres. The high-scoring Sabres, who were averaging 5.4 goals and 38 shots per game, could manage only 21 shots.

Don Beaupre had 17 saves for the Capitals, who beat Buffalo for only the 11th time in 66 meetings over 19 seasons.

The Sabres were 0 for 4 on the power play and were outshot, 12-5, in the final period.

St. Louis 6, Quebec 5--Brendan Shanahan’s second goal of the game with 7:32 remaining broke a tie at Quebec and dealt the Nordiques’ their first defeat of the season.

The Blues, who had not won since an opening-night victory over the Minnesota North Stars, ended a four-game losing streak and extended their domination of Quebec to 13-0-1 since their last loss to the Nordiques on Oct. 3, 1987.

Igor Korolev, who had two assists, including one on the winner, scored his first NHL goal. Bob Bassen, Rich Sutter and Kelly Chase also scored for the Blues.

N.Y. Islanders 6, N.Y. Rangers 3--The Islanders couldn’t have asked for a better beginning to their “New Ice Age.” Playing in Uniondale, their first home game under their new management, the Islanders extended their domination of their closest rivals.

The Islanders are 9-0-2 against the Rangers at Nassau Coliseum since Oct. 28, 1989.

Former Ranger Brian Mullen was one of four Islanders to score his first goal of the season.

Detroit 4, Edmonton 2--Steve Yzerman and Dino Ciccarelli each had a goal and an assist to lead the Red Wings at Detroit and drop the Oilers to 1-5-1.

The Red Wings added third-period goals when Sergei Fedorov made it 3-0 after he intercepted a pass, broke in alone and knocked in his own rebound for a shorthanded goal. Yzerman made it 4-0, knocking a wrap-around shot off the post for his fourth goal.

New Jersey 2, Philadelphia 0--Chris Terreri stopped 25 shots at East Rutherford, N.J., for his third career shutout and became the winningest goalie in Devil history.

It was Terreri’s 63rd victory with the Devils, erasing the franchise record held by Sean Burke.

The shutout also marked the first time Flyer rookie Eric Lindros failed to score at least one point. The Flyers have lost three in a row.

Toronto 4, Chicago 3--Glenn Anderson had two goals and Nikolai Borschevsky added a goal and two assists to lead the Maple Leafs at Toronto.

Borschevsky assisted on both of Anderson’s goals as the Blackhawks lost their second in a row to fall to 1-3-1.

Chicago’s Steve Smith was ejected midway through the third period when he took a two-handed slash at Anderson’s left wrist that broke the defenseman’s stick.

Calgary 6, San Jose 2--The Flames got five unanswered goals from five different people in the second and third periods in beating the Sharks at San Jose.

The Sharks had led, 2-1, after the first, on goals by Dale Craigwell and Mike Sullivan.

But the Flames took control thereafter, getting goals from Chris Lindberg, Gary Leeman, Michel Petit, Carey Wilson and Theoren Fleury.

Petit’s power-play goal with four minutes remaining ended Calgary’s 0-for-24 drought with the man advantage.