NHL ROUNDUP : At 1-7-1, Time for Oiler Change?

The Edmonton Oilers’ worst start ever got even worse Friday night as Joe Juneau scored twice to lead the Boston Bruins to a 6-3 victory at Edmonton.

The Oilers fell behind with 31 seconds left in the second period when Ray Bourque’s flutterball shot beat Bill Ranford, then fell apart in the third period to drop to 1-7-1, their worst beginning since entering the NHL in 1979.

The Oilers’ worst record previously after nine games was 1-4-4 for six points in their first season in the NHL in 1979-80.

Montreal 3, N.Y. Rangers 3--Denis Savard’s fourth three-point night of the season included the tying goal for the Canadiens (4-3-2) at Madison Square Garden.

Savard, who has 14 points in his last seven games and 17 overall, scored his fourth goal at 13:37 of the second period with the Canadiens on a power play, which in itself is something of a rarity--Montreal had the NHL’s worst power-play percentage, converting only five of 54 before clicking on their only chance against the Rangers (5-2-1).

With the tie, the Rangers and goaltender John Vanbiesbrouck continued home-ice streaks. The Rangers extended their home unbeaten streak to 11 (10-0-1). Vanbiesbrouck extended his unbeaten streak at home to 18 (14-0-4).

N.Y. Islanders 5, Washington 2--The Islanders kept the Capitals 0-for-the Patrick Division.

Ray Ferraro scored twice at Capital Centre as the Islanders (4-3-1) extended the Patrick Division losing streak of the Capitals (3-5) to five games.

Derek King, Pierre Turgeon and Steve Thomas each had a goal and an assist and Glenn Healy made 21 saves as the Islanders won for the fourth time in five games and prevented the Capitals from leapfrogging them and moving out of last place in the division.

Buffalo 5, San Jose 4--Pat LaFontaine assisted on Buffalo’s first three goals and scored the next two as the Sabres (5-3) came from behind three times to beat the Sharks (1-6) at Buffalo.

LaFontaine scored the game-winner on a power play with 1:10 left, taking a kicked pass from Yuri Khymylev and beating San Jose goalie Brian Hayward with a 10-foot wrist shot. The five points gives LaFontaine 21.