NHL ROUNDUP : Islanders Ruin Nicholls’ Debut With Devils, 5-3

Pierre Turgeon scored three goals and the New York Islanders spoiled Bernie Nicholls’ debut with New Jersey by defeating the Devils, 5-3, and ending their seven-game unbeaten streak Saturday night at East Rutherford, N.J.

Nicholls, a high-scoring center acquired from Edmonton for Kevin Todd and Zdeno Ciger on Wednesday night, had one assist.

Defenseman Jeff Norton and Uwe Krupp also scored as the Islanders won for the third time in nine games.

Vancouver 8, Hartford 3--Robert Kron, with only three points in his nine previous games, scored two power-play goals and assisted on two others as the Canucks won at Vancouver.

Kron skated on a line with Petr Nedved, who also had two goals, and rookie Dixon Ward. The Canucks also got goals from Pavel Bure, Gerald Diduck, Cliff Ronning and Geoff Courtnall.

Montreal 3, N.Y. Rangers 0--The Canadiens, with second-period goals from Vincent Damphousse and Kevin Haller, maintained their home-ice domination over the Rangers with a shutout at Montreal.

In 15 games dating to the 1982-83 season, the Canadiens have lost only one game at the Montreal Forum to the Rangers (12-1-2).

St. Louis 5, Tampa Bay 3--Brendan Shanahan scored twice and Brett Hull added a goal and an assist as the Blues defeated the Lightning at Tampa Bay.

Chris Kontos had a goal and two assists and Mike Hartman added a goal and an assist for Tampa Bay.

Quebec 4, San Jose 1--Mike Ricci scored two goals and set up another as the Nordiques won at Quebec.

The Sharks, winless in their last 10 games, including seven losses in a row, were playing the fifth of nine consecutive road games. The second-year club, whose last victory was on Dec. 26 against the Kings, is 1-22-1 in its last 24 games.

Philadelphia 5, Boston 4--Pelle Eklund scored the Flyers’ third goal in a span of 68 seconds in the second period to lift the Flyers at Boston.

Eklund fired through a screen for his fifth goal of the season, the 400th point of his NHL career.

Pittsburgh 6, Ottawa 1--Joe Mullen scored two goals at Pittsburgh as the Penguins handed the Senators their 22nd road loss in as many games.

The Penguins ended a two-game losing streak, which matched their season high. They have won two of the six games they have played this season without captain Mario Lemieux.

Chicago 5, Toronto 3--Goals by Brent Sutter and Greg Gilbert 73 seconds apart midway through the third period lifted the Blackhawks at Toronto.

Jeremy Roenick scored Chicago’s first two goals and Steve Larmer added a short-handed empty-net goal with 19 seconds to play.

Minnesota 4, Calgary 3--Neal Broten’s goal broke a 3-3 tie with 8:56 to play as the North Stars won at Bloomington, Minn.

Broten’s winner came on a cross-ice feed from Russ Courtnall. Former North Star Craig Dahlquist dove to block the pass in front of the net, but Broten took the puck off Dahlquist’s stick and put it past goalie Mike Vernon.