NHL Roundup : Jets Send the Oilers a Message, 5-2

For the past five seasons, the Edmonton Oilers have dominated the Smythe Division so thoroughly they have coasted into the playoffs. In fact, hockey observers said they won the Stanley Cup in 1984 and 1985 at least in part because they were well-rested during the regular season.

All that has changed. While the Oilers still dominate the division and are the early favorite to regain the coveted trophy, they no longer can breeze through to the final round of the playoffs.

It shocked many observers when Calgary knocked the Oilers out of the playoffs in the second round, but not people in the West. They knew both the Flames and Winnipeg Jets had the youthful nucleus for strong teams.

The Flames and Jets have arrived. They now rank just below the Oilers and the Philadelphia Flyers.

Center Laurie Boschman scored a goal and set up another in a four-goal outburst Sunday at Winnipeg that enabled the Jets to beat the Oilers, 5-2, move into second place and cut the Oilers’ division lead to nine points.

The Oilers lead all teams with 81 points. The Flyers have 79, the Jets 72 and Calgary 70. Thus, three of the four teams with 70 or more are from the once maligned Smythe Division.

Except for a brief time in the second period when Wayne Gretzky rallied the Oilers for two goals, the Jets completely dominated the game. At 6:38, Gretzky assisted on a power-play goal by Mike Krushelnyski, then later in the period, the great one scored his 54th goal of the season.

Before and after, the Jets, winning their fifth in a row at home, were in complete charge.

“Victories such as this one can be a real asset to our team,” Boschman said. “It could be a psychological lift if we face them in the playoffs.

“We have a good hockey club. We know we can play either a wide-open game or a defensive type. That’s to our advantage come the playoffs.”

New York Islanders 7, New Jersey 0--It seemed like old times for the Islanders at East Rutherford, N.J. Goaltender Billy Smith was turning in another shutout and Mike Bossy was putting the puck in the net.

Smith stopped 21 shots to earn his 20th shutout, only his first this season, while Bossy scored his 31st goal.

Shortly before the game the Islanders learned that they would be without a key player, Denis Potvin, indefinitely. He suffered a severely bruised knee in the win at Montreal Saturday night.

It was the second impressive performance in a row for the Islanders. They have scored 13 goals in two games after getting only nine in a six-game winless streak.

Bossy, far below best form because of a groin injury, scored his 31st goal, just his first in the last six games. With only 20 games remaining, it seems unlikely Bossy will extend his record of 50-goal seasons to 10. He scored 50 or more in each of his first nine NHL seasons.

Buffalo 5, Hartford 3--Mike Foligno had a goal and two assists at Buffalo as the Sabres continued their remarkable comeback under Ted Sator.

Since Sator took over as coach the Sabres are 15-9-2 and are only four points behind Quebec in the battle for the final playoff spot in the Adams Division.

Pittsburgh 4, New York Rangers 2--The Penguins scored three goals in less than 3 1/2 minutes in the first period at New York and went on to gain a big victory.

With the win the Penguins moved within four points of third place in their drive to earn a playoff spot.

Washington 5, Calgary 2--Alan Haworth scored two first period power-play goals at Calgary to get the Capitals off to a fast start as they put an end to the Flames’ six-game winning streak.

Mike Gartner scored his 30th goal, his seventh in the last three games, for the Capitals.

Detroit 2, Chicago 2--Troy Murray scored on a 15-foot screen shot with less than two minutes left in regulation at Chicago to give the Blackhawks a tie.

Steve Yzerman scored twice for the Red Wings to give them a 2-0 lead going into the final period.

Vancouver 3, Toronto 2--Dave Bruce scored on a 25-foot slapshot with just under three minutes remaining at Vancouver to end the Canucks’ two-game losing streak. The Maple Leafs scored their two goals before the game was a minute old.