NHL ROUNDUP : Lemieux Still Not Ready, but Barrasso Is for Penguins

Pittsburgh Penguin star Mario Lemieux didn’t make his return Friday night, but Tom Barrasso certainly did.

The Penguin goalie showed little rust after a 14-game absence, making 29 saves and leading his team to a 6-3 victory over the Red Wings at Detroit.

“Tom was razor sharp,” Penguin Coach Ed Johnston said. “He made a couple of great saves when the game was close. After we got up 5-2, we got a little lackadaisical, but Tom made some big saves again.”

Barrasso’s biggest save perhaps came early in the second period. With Detroit leading, 2-1, Dallas Drake shot from point-blank range only to have Barrasso kick it aside. The Penguins eventually went ahead, 3-2, later in the period and stayed ahead.

Barrasso had been sidelined since Dec. 28, when he sprained his knee against the Philadelphia Flyers.

Lemieux participated in the Penguins’ Friday morning skate, but left after a few minutes. He missed his 35th consecutive game, still recovering from off-season back surgery.

Montreal 4, Washington 0--Vincent Damphousse scored three goals for the second time this season and Patrick Roy stopped 24 shots for his NHL-high sixth shutout as the Canadiens won at Landover, Md.

Winnipeg 2, Hartford 2--Geoff Sanderson scored the tying goal in the third period as the Whalers came from behind to tie the score at Winnipeg, extending the Jets’ winless streak to eight games.

Buffalo 7, Florida 2--Randy Wood scored twice at Miami as the Sabres handed the Panthers their worst loss of the season.

New Jersey 5, Ottawa 2--Valeri Zelepukin scored twice at East Rutherford, N.J., and the Devils avoided their first three-game losing streak of the season.

Chicago 3, Edmonton 1--Rich Sutter had two goals to help the Blackhawks beat the Oilers at Edmonton. Sutter, who grew up near Edmonton, opened and closed the scoring against the Oilers, who have one victory in their last 11 games.