NHL ROUNDUP : LaFontaine Moves Ahead of Lemieux

It took an absence of nearly two months by Mario Lemieux to turn the NHL scoring race into a true race.

Lemieux was running away with the title until he was forced off the ice because of Hodgkin’s disease.

With Lemieux back on the ice and back in the lead after briefly losing it, it took a four-point night by Pat LaFontaine on Wednesday to push him in front in the scoring chase with 142 points, one more than Lemieux.

LaFontaine’s big night at Buffalo--one goal and three assists--enabled his Sabres to defeat the New Jersey Devils, 5-2.

Dale Hawerchuk scored two power-play goals, both set up by LaFontaine, and added an assist for the Sabres, who also got a goal from Alexander Mogilny, his league-leading 74th.

Quebec 6, Montreal 2--Mats Sundin scored a goal and set up three more at Montreal during a victory that tightened the Adams Division race.

With their third victory in a row, the Nordiques moved ahead of the idle Boston Bruins into second place, two points behind Montreal with a game in hand.

The Nordiques wound up winning their season series against the Canadiens, four games to three, including victories in all three games at Montreal.

Edmonton 5, Minnesota 2--Louie DeBrusk scored the winner at Edmonton late in the second period, enabling the Oilers to maintain their mastery over the North Stars.

DeBrusk made a sensational play in front of Minnesota goaltender Darcy Wakaluk, knocking down the puck from eye height with his glove onto his stick and then sweeping it between Wakaluk’s legs.

The North Stars have not won a regular-season game in Edmonton since Oct. 24, 1980.