NHL ROUNDUP : Lindros Criticizes the Flyers

The Tampa Bay Lightning’s first NHL season is turning out to be more pleasant than that of Eric Lindros.

The Lightning, one of two expansion teams, won for the fourth time in five games by beating Lindros and the Philadelphia Flyers, 4-1, Sunday night at Tampa.

And after the Flyers’ seventh loss in eight games, Lindros hinted that the team’s problems may be more off-ice than on.

“It comes down to a lot of hard work and taking care of our bodies,” said Lindros, a rookie center who scored the Flyers’ only goal. “Putting some things aside off the ice and focusing on hockey.

“I’m embarrassed about our effort tonight. I’m embarrassed about my effort first, and I’m embarrassed about a lot of people’s efforts,” added Lindros, who was playing in his second game after sitting out nine because of a sprained knee ligament.

The Lightning got two goals from Brian Bradley and a superb checking job on Lindros from Steve Kasper, acquired from Philadelphia earlier this month, to improve to 4-1-0 after a six-game losing streak. At 14-20-2, the Lightning is tied for fourth with Toronto in the Norris Division.

Bradley’s two goals gave him 26, tying him for third in the NHL with Vancouver’s Pavel Bure and Detroit’s Steve Yzerman.

Chicago 4, Minnesota 0--Ed Belfour stopped 25 shots at Chicago as the Blackhawks cooled off the NHL’s hottest road team with their eighth consecutive home victory.

Belfour got his fourth shutout and increased his unbeaten streak to 7-0-1 in ending the North Stars’ seven-game winning streak away from Met Center.

The Blackhawks opened the scoring 12:04 into the game when Christian Ruuttu’s 15-footer from the slot bounced off Dirk Graham’s chest and past Jon Casey. Steve Larmer made the score 2-0 with his 387th goal 18 seconds into the second period.

Quebec 5, N.Y. Islanders 3--Joe Sakic scored his 24th goal and set up another for the Nordiques during a three-goal first period at Quebec.

The Islanders, coming off a victory over the Penguins in Pittsburgh, saw a four-game winning streak end. The Nordiques won at home for only the second time in seven games.

Martin Rucinsky and Steve Duchesne added first-period goals for the Nordiques, who saw their 3-0 margin cut to a single goal before Owen Nolan scored late in the second period.

Buffalo 5, Toronto 4--Alexander Mogilny scored with 1:17 remaining in the third period to give the Sabres the victory at Buffalo.

Mogilny took the puck on the left side of the net and put it past Grant Fuhr. The Maple Leafs thought they tied the score as regulation time expired, but the red light never went on and the no-goal ruling was upheld.