NHL ROUNDUP : Biron Gets Rude Welcome From Penguins in Defeat

Mario Lemieux and Jaromir Jagr are Pittsburgh’s wolves, and the Buffalo Sabres threw a lamb their way Tuesday night.

Martin Biron, an 18-year-old goalie in his Buffalo debut, found out the difference between junior hockey and the NHL at Pittsburgh, giving up four goals in 16 shots in the first period in the Penguins’ 6-3 victory.

Lemieux and Jagr, who are tied for the NHL lead in goals, had two each on Tuesday.

They are first and second in in the NHL points. Jagr had three assists in his 21st multiple-point game this season, and Lemieux added an assist, giving him points in all but one of his 30 games.

Biron hadn’t played since last Wednesday, when he started a game for Beauport in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. The Sabres called on Christmas Eve and told him he’d be starting against the Penguins.

“That was my Christmas present,” he said. “I still feel that way. It was exciting for me to be out there tonight.”

Buffalo’s top three goalies are injured.

“It was a real tough situation for him to go in,” Coach Ted Nolan said. “Actually it’s tough for any goaltender to come in and play their first game against a team like this.”

Biron left the game after the first period. He watched Steve Shields work the second, then came back and stopped all eight shots in the third.

Detroit 3, St. Louis 2--Red Wing Coach Scotty Bowman tied Al Arbour’s NHL record for most games coached (1,606) and his team overcame an early two-goal deficit to win at home.

Washington 4, Montreal 0--Jim Carey stopped 20 shots in turning in the sixth shutout of his career and Peter Bondra had two goals for the Capitals in a victory in Landover, Md.

New York Rangers 6, Ottawa 4--The Rangers extended their home unbeaten streak to 17 games (14-0-3) with the help of two goals each by Pat Verbeek and Mark Messier.

New York Islanders 3, Boston 3--Ray Bourque’s goal with 3:40 to play in regulation rallied the Bruins from a three-goal, third-period deficit for a tie at Uniondale, N.Y.

Chicago 5, Dallas 3--Murray Craven deflected Eric Daze’s long shot past Darcy Wakaluk to break a tie with 3:59 to play at Chicago.

Colorado 5, San Jose 1--Valeri Kamensky scored his 17th and 18th goals for the Avalanche, who won at San Jose.

Calgary 4, Vancouver 2--Defenseman Jamie Huscroft, who had only two goals in two seasons before joining the Flames, scored with 6:46 remaining and Theo Fleury added an empty-net goal to beat the Canucks at Vancouver.