NHL Roundup : Maple Leafs Shoot Less but Enjoy It More

Shots on goal are often misleading. For instance, the Rangers had 24 shots in the second period at New York Friday night and scored three times.

That should have been enough to finish off the weak Toronto Maple Leafs. It wasn’t. The Maple Leafs converted six of 11 shots in the period and breezed to a 10-6 victory.

The Rangers led the Patrick Division by four points going into this month but have collapsed. They have lost six of their last seven games, including four of five at home. They have fallen into third place, three points out of first.

Daniel Marois had three goals and Gary Leeman two for the Maple Leafs, the last place team in the weak Norris Division. It was their 19th win in 58 games.

Buffalo 5, Pittsburgh 1--The Sabres, trounced by the Penguins at Pittsburgh Tuesday night, won easily at home Friday night.

Pierre Turgeon had a goal and three assists to lead the Sabres into second place in the Adams Division and get even for the 7-3 defeat.

Mario Lemieux’s 62nd goal was the only score for the Penguins.

Washington 8, Edmonton 2--If the Capitals could play most of their games on the road, they might prove to be the best team in the Patrick Division.

Mike Ridley scored twice as the Capitals, losers of three in a row at home, are 5-1-4 in their last 10 road games.

The Capitals are one point behind Pittsburgh.

The Oilers were without injured stars Jari Kurri, Mark Messier, Steve Smith and Craig Muni.

Chicago 5, Detroit 3--Jeremy Roenick and Adam Creighton scored 12 seconds apart at Detroit to bring the Blackhawks from behind to an impressive victory.

After Dave Barr put the Red Wings ahead, 3-2, with less than five minutes remaining, Roenick, a rookie in his sixth game, picked up the puck in a scramble in front of the net and scored his third goal a little over a minute later. Creighton scored the winner at 16:27.

The win put the Blackhawks just one point behind St. Louis and 10 behind Detroit in the Norris Division.

Winnipeg 3, New Jersey 2--David Ellett scored at 2:43 of overtime at Winnipeg to put an end to the Jets’ winless streak.

It appeared that the Jets’ slump would be extended to eight games, but with 33 seconds left in regulation, Laurie Boschman scored to send it into overtime.