NHL ROUNDUP : Nordiques Move Into First Place

No one is taking the Quebec Nordiques lightly anymore.

After finishing in the Adams Division cellar for the last five seasons, the Nordiques moved into first place Thursday night as Andrei Kovalenko’s overtime goal lifted them to a a 3-2 victory over the Bruins at Boston.

The Nordiques, 6-1 in their last seven games, have 54 points at the halfway point of the season, one more than division rival Montreal, which was idle. They had only 52 all last season.

“Being in first place in January is like coming around the half turn at the race track,” Quebec Coach Pierre Page said. “Nobody will remember that. I’d like to be in first at the last turn.”

Kovalenko scored his 15th goal of the season at 1:35 of overtime. Claude Lapointe passed from the left boards to the left side of the slot, where Kovalenko one-timed a 30-footer to the left of goalie John Blue, who was called up from the minors earlier in the day.

Quebec, playing without its injured top scorers, Mats Sundin and Joe Sakic, had tied the game 3:12 into the third period on a goal by Owen Nolan.

Blue, drafted by Winnipeg in 1986, played his first NHL game. He and goalie Mike Bales were called up from the minors Thursday. Regular goalie Andy Moog, who has been struggling, did not suit up. Veteran backup Reggie Lemelin was waived.

Philadelphia 8, Washington 2--Kevin Dineen ended a slump with three goals as the Flyers beatthe Capitals at Philadelphia.

Philadelphia, which has one loss in its last five games (3-1-1), recorded the franchise’s 999th victory. Washington, unbeaten in its last four games (2-0-2), suffered its first loss against a Patrick Division opponent in its last eight games (6-1-1).

Minnesota 6, Pittsburgh 3--Ulf Dahlen scored three goals and Russ Courtnall added two as the North Stars beat the Penguins, who were playing without Mario Lemieux at home.

Dahlen registered his third hat trick and first by a North Star in 41 games this season.

Lemieux, who has been ordered by doctors to rest his ailing back until Jan. 25, watched from team president Howard Baldwin’s private box as the Penguins’ 5-0-1 streak ended.

Edmonton 3, Chicago 3--Steve Larmer’s second goal of the game, with 5:38 left in regulation, earned the Blackhawks a tie with the Oilers at Chicago.

Larmer took a pass from Michel Goulet, who had circled the Oilers’ net as goaltender Bill Ranford was shoved into the crease, and jammed the puck over the goal line.

St. Louis 3, Calgary 2--Brendan Shanahan, suspended by the NHL earlier in the day for a stick-swinging incident, scored on a 15-foot slap shot with 2:02 to play in overtime to lift the Blues at home.

Shanahan took a pass from Nelson Emerson in the right circle and fired the puck past goalie Mike Vernon to give the Blues consecutive victories for the first time since Oct. 31.

Shanahan was suspended for six non-game days without pay by the NHL for hitting Minnesota’s Mike Craig in the face with his stick Dec. 22.