Rookie Leads the Way for the Surging Blues

Rookie Marty Reasoner is making his mark with the St. Louis Blues.

Reasoner scored his seventh goal to start the Blues to a 3-2 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday night at St. Louis.

“I’m just trying to fit in and not be disruptive to the team,” Reasoner said. “I didn’t come here with any real personal goals, I just wanted to play where I could help the most.”

The Blues have won seven of nine while Philadelphia had a five-game winning streak snapped. St. Louis, with 88 points, is tied with New Jersey for the NHL’s best record.

St. Louis was coming off an embarrassing loss to Chicago on Sunday.

“That game was a wake-up call, we had to play better,” said Bob Bassen, who scored his first goal in 20 games with the Blues this season.

Peter White, playing in only his third game of the season for Philadelphia, scored his first goal at 3:06 on a shot from the top of the slot.

Reasoner tied it at 19:19 on a power play when he fired a slap shot that eluded John Vanbiesbrouck.

The Blues took a 2-1 lead at 10:02 of the second on Bassen’s goal. Chris Pronger scored an insurance goal at 4:25 of the third when Vanbiesbrouck appeared to be screened.

Toronto 4, Atlanta 0--Newly acquired Darcy Tucker had a goal and an assist at Atlanta as the Maple Leafs won their fourth consecutive game.

Atlanta, which lost for the 15th time in 16 games, managed only 14 shots.

Toronto got a second-period goal from Cory Cross and third-period scores from Nik Antropov and Steve Thomas as the Maple Leafs maintained their four-point lead over Ottawa in the Northeast Division.

New Jersey 2, Nashville 1--Randy McKay scored 19 seconds into his 700th NHL game and Martin Brodeur made 35 saves in the Devils’ victory at Nashville.

John Madden scored the other goal as New Jersey won its second in a row after an 0-4-1 slump. Nashville lost for the eighth time in 10 games.

Ottawa 5, Boston 3--Marian Hossa scored twice--36 seconds apart--during a four-goal second period in the Senators’ victory at Boston.

Ottawa grabbed a 4-0 lead before the Bruins scored three times in the final period to get back in the game.

Chris Phillips scored his fourth goal into an empty net with 12 seconds remaining to seal the win.

Edmonton 3, Colorado 1--Alexander Selivanov broke a tie midway through the third period and the Oilers held on for a victory over the fading Avalanche at Colorado.

Doug Weight scored twice for Edmonton, and Tommy Salo made 37 saves.

Around the League

Philadelphia Flyer Coach Roger Neilson is scheduled to enter the hospital next Monday to begin a stem cell transplant treatment for a rare form of bone marrow cancer known as multiple myeloma. Neilson, 65, will be hospitalized for about three weeks, followed by a six-to-eight week rehabilitation, the NHL said. Neilson was diagnosed with the disease Dec. 9. He already has undergone less aggressive chemotherapy treatment. . . . New Jersey Devil owner John McMullen said the team probably will make a trade to improve its Stanley Cup chances before the March 14 deadline, but that it won’t be for the Vancouver Canucks’ Mark Messier. “He’s a fine young man, but what is he now, 40?” McMullen said. “I’d like to think if we make a trade, it will be for someone who we can keep for a few years.” . . . Center Eric Lindros will miss at least two games for the Flyers because of a strained back.