NHL ROUNDUP : Panthers Upset Canadiens at Montreal, 3-1

The expansion Florida Panthers, led by goaltender John Vanbiesbrouck, surprised the Montreal Canadiens on Wednesday night, beating the Stanley Cup champions, 3-1, in their first game at the Forum in Montreal.

Rookie Rob Niedermayer scored in the first period, former Canadien Jesse Belanger scored in the second and Randy Gilhen in the third for Florida. The victory by the Panthers came three days after they won, 3-1, at Quebec.

Vanbiesbrouck kept the Panthers ahead, even though they were outshot, 38-20. Montreal took 14 shots to Florida’s four in the second period.

N.Y. Rangers 2, Winnipeg 1--Tony Amonte’s tiebreaking goal midway through the third period at New York sent the Rangers to their sixth consecutive victory.

Mike Richter made 26 saves as the Rangers extended their unbeaten streak to eight games (7-0-1). Richter has started the last 10 games for New York.

Hartford 4, Ottawa 3--Brian Propp scored 20 seconds into overtime as the Whalers ended a 10-game winless streak.

Propp stopped a pass by Robert Kron with his skate at the right circle and shot it past goaltender Darrin Madeley for the game-winner at Hartford.

The Whalers won after Ottawa rookie Alexandre Daigle scored with 35 seconds to play in regulation to tie the score.

The Whalers had been 0-9-1 since winning in Chicago, 6-2, on Oct. 14.

Philadelphia 5, Buffalo 3--Mikael Renberg scored the Flyers’ first two goals in a victory that kept the Sabres the only team winless at home this season.

Gary Galley, Mike Recchi and Eric Lindros scored the other goals for the Flyers.

Buffalo, 0-7 at home, got goals from Derek Plante, Craig Simpson and Pat LaFontaine.

New Jersey 5, N.Y. Islanders 3--Stephane Richer scored the go-ahead goal midway through the third period to lift the Devils at East Rutherford, N.J.

Richer had a goal and two assists for the Devils, who have won three in a row. The Islanders have only one victory in their last five games.

John MacLean and Benoit Hogue had two goals each for the Devils.