NHL ROUNDUP : Neely Bids Fond <i> Adieu</i> in Chicago

Cam Neely made his last visit to Chicago Stadium a memorable one.

Neely took over the NHL goal-scoring lead with his 45th and 46th goals and Jon Casey extended his unbeaten streak to 11 games with his fourth shutout of the season as the Boston Bruins defeated the Chicago Blackhawks, 4-0, on Sunday.

The Blackhawks will move to the new United Center beginning with the 1994-95 season.

The Bruins were 93-141-44 in Chicago Stadium dating to 1929.

Playing in Chicago “is similar to playing in Boston,” Neely said. “The ice surface is the same and the history in the two buildings is unforgettable.

“When I walked down the famous Stadium steps for probably the last time I remembered well one of my greatest moments here, the 1991 All-Star game,” he said. “It was electrifying and incredible. I don’t think I’ll ever get that atmosphere again.”

Adam Oates, who had three assists, helped Neely score his second goal, at 15:07 of the final period, as Neely took over the lead from Buffalo’s Dave Andreychuk and Detroit’s Ray Sheppard. Neely fired the puck past Ed Belfour from in front during a power play.

The first-place Bruins, finishing a seven-game trip (5-1-1), moved three points ahead of Montreal in the Northeast Division.

Casey stopped three breakaways in the second period and made 20 saves in extending his string of games to 9-0-2 and ending Chicago’s four-game unbeaten string (3-0-1).

Washington 3, Hartford 1--Forwards Keith Jones and Mike Ridley scored within a 2:46 span of the third period as the surging Capitals rallied at Hartford.

After Jones tied the score at 1:45 of the final period, Ridley got the game-winner at 4:31.

Sylvain Cote completed the scoring for Washington, which won its third in a row and improved to 11-3-2 under Jim Schoenfeld, who took over as coach Jan. 27.

Washington, 31-26-6, moved five games above .500 for the first time this season.

Schoenfeld downplayed his contributions since taking the helm, but hinted that the players have grasped what he has tried to employ.

“The key is staying patient and not abandoning what has been working,” Schoenfeld said. “You work and work and hope the bounces go your way.

New York Islanders 5, Quebec 2--Pierre Turgeon capped a three-goal first period with his 23rd goal of the season and the Islanders won at Uniondale, N.Y.

Quebec ended Ron Hextall’s home shutout streak at 249 minutes 39 seconds when Chris Simon scored with a high 10-foot wrist shot at 2:39 of the third period.

Hextall, who finished with 31 saves, had full shutouts at Uniondale against Ottawa, Washington and Philadelphia, plus a 13:00 scoreless stretch against Tampa Bay.

Marty McInnis, Keith Acton, Ray Ferraro and Benoit Hogue had the other goals for the Islanders, who scored their first three goals in a 3:43 span in the opening period.

New York has won five consecutive games at home. Including all six chances against the Nordiques, the Islanders have killed 46 consecutive penalties on home ice.

Claude Lapointe also scored for Quebec.

Edmonton 3, Tampa Bay 2--Shjon Podein had two goals and assisted on the game-winner as the Oilers won at home.

Scott Pearson scored what proved to be the game-winning goal in the second period, 21 seconds after Podein’s second goal, as Edmonton won its third in a row.

Pearson, playing for the first time after missing 11 games because of a knee injury, also had two assists. Dean McAmmond, recalled from the minors eight days ago, assisted on all three goals.

Gord Gallant and Rob DiMaio scored for the Lightning.