NHL Roundup : Barrasso Back in Form; Sabres Cut Down Capitals, 4-0

Lindy Ruff scored twice in the second period Saturday night at Landover, Md., and goaltender Tom Barrasso emerged from a slump to lead Buffalo to a 4-0 victory over the Washington Capitals.

Barrasso, the league’s leading goaltender, stopped 23 shots in posting his fifth shutout, tops in the league. He lost four in a row before facing the Capitals.

In those four games Barrasso gave up 17 goals, six to the champion Edmonton Oilers. However, Coach Scotty Bowman placed the blame on the rest of the team, not on his teen-age goalie.

“The pressure of being expected to lead the division got to our young players,” Bowman said. “Maybe, we’re starting to overcome the pressure.”

The victory, only the second in the last six games, enabled the Sabres to remain tied with Quebec for second place in the Adams Division, two points behind Montreal.

Boston 5, Vancouver 0--The Bruins, who appeared to be “sleepskating” in four previous Saturday games, found an early wake up call was the answer.

The Bruins were awake at the start at Boston and breezed to their second win in a row. Dave Reid scored two minutes after the start and Pete Peeters stopped 21 shots to earn his first shutout in almost two years. Ken Linseman, who assisted on Reid’s goal, scored the next two Boston goals.

Quebec 4, Philadelphia 2--Paul Gillis scored twice at Quebec, and the Nordiques beat the Flyers for the first time since February, 1982. The Nordiques have won five of their last six, while the Flyers, after winning eight in a row, have lost two in a row.

Pittsburgh 5, New York Rangers 4--Mike Bullard scored twice in a four-goal, first-period onslaught at Pittsburgh that enabled the Penguins to pull within two points of the Rangers in the battle for the last playoff spot in the Patrick Division.

Mario Lemieux, showing no after effects from the punch he took in Wednesday’s game with Winnipeg, opened the scoring with his 30th goal.

Toronto 4, New York Islanders 2--Bill Derlago scored the winning goal 14 seconds into the third period at Toronto when the Islanders’ young goalie, Kelly Hrudey, left the net unprotected and lost the race for the puck.

St. Louis 4, Chicago 4--The Blues rallied for two goals in the third period at St. Louis to gain a tie and remain six points ahead of the Black Hawks in the Norris Division. Doug Gilmour knocked in a rebound to tie the game with 6:14 left.

Minnesota 5, Detroit 2--Dirk Graham scored twice at Bloomington, Minn., to lead the North Stars to a split in their two-game “war” with the Red Wings. In the two battles, 264 minutes in penalties were meted out.