Whalers Build Lead, but Avalanche Roars Back

Eric Lacroix, who had two goals in the game, Adam Deadmarsh and Sandish Ozolinsh scored in the final 10 minutes of the third period Saturday night as the defending Stanley Cup champion Colorado Avalanche rallied to tie the Hartford Whalers, 4-4, at Denver.

Hartford had built a 4-1 second-period lead behind two goals and an assist from Keith Primeau, who has scored seven points on four goals and three assists in his last four games. Left wing Stu Grimson and defenseman Glen Featherstone also scored for Hartford.

Philadelphia 2, San Jose 2--John LeClair scored his 11th and 12th goals of the season for the Flyers, but the Sharks got goals from Jeff Friesen and Greg Hawgood in the final 11 minutes to send the game into overtime at Philadelphia.

LeClair, who has four two-goal games in his last seven, scored twice in the first period, and Shark goalie Kelly Hrudey worked hard to keep the Flyers off the board the rest of the way, making 33 saves.

New Jersey 6, Tampa Bay 3--Brian Rolston scored three of the Devils’ five third-period goals, keying a comeback victory over the Lightning at East Rutherford, N.J.

John MacLean scored the other two third-period goals. Bill Guerin also scored for New Jersey, which continued its mastery of the Lightning. The Devils are unbeaten (6-0-1) in their last seven games against Tampa Bay.

Ottawa 4, N.Y. Islanders 1--Bruce Gardiner scored his first two NHL goals in the third period as the Senators rolled over the Islanders at Uniondale, N.Y., for their second victory in a row.

N.Y. Rangers 8, Pittsburgh 3--Adam Graves scored the first of six second-period goals that lifted the Rangers to the victory over the Penguins at Pittsburgh.

Graves’ goal came 10 seconds into the period and started what would become the seventh time in the Penguins’ 30-year history that they have given up six goals in one period at home.

The victory ended New York’s three-game losing streak and a 0-4-1 slide.

Montreal 6, Vancouver 1--Jocelyn Thibault stopped 37 shots, and Shayne Corson scored his first two goals since being reacquired by the Canadiens, who overwhelmed the Canucks at Montreal.

Thibault came within 2:31 of his fifth career shutout while giving Montreal only its third victory in 11 games and taking some heat off embattled Coach Mario Tremblay.

Martin Rucinsky, Chris Murray, Stephane Quintal and Vincent Damphousse also scored for Montreal.

The Canucks have not beaten the Canadiens since Dec. 27, 1993.

St. Louis 2, Calgary 0--Grant Fuhr recorded his 18th career shutout as the Blues extended their winning streak to four games with the victory at home.

St. Louis limited the Flames to only 21 shots, including 13 in the final two periods. Fuhr stopped all of them en route to his first shutout of the season.

Phoenix 3, Toronto 2--Jeremy Roenick’s second goal of the third period, on the power play with 4:30 to play, gave the Coyotes the come-from-behind victory at Phoenix.