Flames Get a Victory, Division Lead

The Calgary Flames’ Robert Reichel beat Pittsburgh Penguin goaltender Tom Barrasso on a penalty shot with 10 minutes remaining Thursday night at Calgary to push the Flames into the lead in a game they would win, 7-5, thus pushing them into the lead in the Pacific Division as well.

The victory, the Flames’ fourth in five home games, moved them past the Colorado Avalanche by a single point in the fight for the top spot in the division.

Reichel, who had tied the game 56 seconds earlier on a power play, was awarded the penalty shot--Calgary’s second in two games--when he was hauled down on a breakaway by Pittsburgh forward Petr Nedved.

Theoren Fleury beat Colorado’s Patrick Roy on a penalty shot Tuesday night in the Flames’ victory over the Avalanche.

German Titov also had two goals for Calgary Thursday while Ron Francis had a pair for Pittsburgh.

The loss was the slumping Penguins’ sixth straight on the road loss, dropping Pittsburgh to 2-7 overall.

The Penguins have been outscored, 41-22, this season.

Ottawa 5, Tampa Bay 2--The Senators haven’t had much to brag about in their four years of existence, having never won more than 18 games in a year. But suddenly, they can boast about having the league’s leading scorer.

Alexi Yashin’s two goals not only helped Ottawa get past the Lightning at Tampa, but they also enabled Yashin to leap over Phoenix’s Mike Gartner and Edmonton’s Ryan Smyth into the NHL lead with eight goals.

New Jersey 3, San Jose 1--The Devils’ sticks had been largely quiet through the team’s first six games, New Jersey scoring a league-low 13 goals.

But those sticks made plenty of noise at East Rutherford, N.J. John MacLean got his first goal of the season, and his teammates, Bill Guerin and Dave Andreychuk, scored 16 seconds apart in the third period.

Chicago 6, St. Louis 4--Eric Weinrich stole Brett Hull’s clearing attempt and scored the go-ahead goal with 16:05 left at Chicago, giving the Blackhawks their fourth straight victory and the Blues a third loss in four games.

Hull scored to make it 3-3 early in the third period. But shortly thereafter, his weak bank off the boards was intercepted at the right point by Weinrich, who slapped the puck past goalie Jon Casey.

Toronto 2, Boston 1--Maple Leaf goalie Felix Potvin made 27 saves at Boston to improve to 5-0-2 overall against the Bruins.

Wendel Clark got an assist on Toronto’s first goal and then scored the game-winner himself.

Buffalo 6, Montreal 3--Donald Audette’s game-winning goal at Buffalo marked the first time he had put the puck into the net since January. Audette, sidelined since last season because of a knee injury, scored on a four-on-three power play.