NHL ROUNDUP : Oilers Hang In There and Stretch Smythe Lead

First, the Edmonton Oilers lost Grant Fuhr, probably the best goaltender in the NHL. Then, they lost Bill Ranford, his capable replacement.

Many teams, faced with that much rotten luck, might have folded. All the Oilers did was get tougher.

Craig Simpson scored twice in the first period Wednesday night at Edmonton and the Oilers scored five times in a fast start to a 7-3 victory over the Buffalo Sabres.

Third-string goalie Pokey Reddick stopped 20 shots to post his second win in a row and the Oilers stretched their lead in the Smythe Division to three points.

Despite all the problems, the Oilers have 74 points. Only Boston, with 77, has more.

The Oilers hammered Buffalo goalie Clint Malarchuk early. They had 15 shots in just more than 15 minutes and five of them went into the net.

New York Rangers 4, Detroit 4--Steve Yzerman almost prevented the Rangers from moving into first place in the Patrick Division in this game at Detroit.

The Rangers, who lost a 4-2 lead in the last period, broke a tie with the New York Islanders and lead the division by a point. Only seven points separate the six Patrick teams.

Yzerman had two goals and assisted on another. He has 49 goals in 62 games.

Hartford 3, Quebec 2--Ron Francis and Pat Verbeek scored on power plays less than two minutes apart in the first period at Hartford and the Whalers moved closer to clinching a playoff spot.

Even if the Nordiques win their 20 remaining games, they would have 66 points. The Whalers have 63 points, so they can clinch with two victories in their last 19 games.

The top three teams in the Adams Division, Boston, Buffalo and Montreal, have already clinched playoff berths.