NHL Roundup : Gretzky Helps Rally Oilers Past Flyers, 6-4

In a game featuring the two teams generally considered the best in the National Hockey League, it wasn’t surprising that Wayne Gretzky was the star.

Gretzky rallied the Oilers from a 3-0 first-period deficit Sunday night at Edmonton and led them to a 6-4 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers.

The best player in the sport had two goals, including the goal that broke a 4-4 tie with just 3:31 remaining, and also had an assist. Gretzky, running away with the scoring title as usual, has 37 goals in 37 games.

After losing control of a centering pass, Gretzky regained the puck, skated around the net and poked the puck into the net past goalie Ron Hextall. A minute later, Craig MacTavish scored to clinch the win.

The Flyers, who have beaten the Oilers twice this season at home, dominated the first period, scoring three times and chasing Grant Fuhr out of the nets.

With Andy Moog giving them solid goaltending the last two periods, Gretzky guided the Oilers to victory.

It was the third loss in a row for the Flyers, but their 25-10-2 record is the best in the NHL. It may be time to worry about rookie goalie Hextall, however. The youngster has given up 10 goals in his last two games.

Hextall, the first goalie to win 20 games this season, had a goals-against average of 2.65 before Saturday night, when he gave up four at Vancouver. In this game, he gave up six goals on 21 shots after stopping five shots in the first period.

Gretzky has 90 points. Linemate Jari Kurri also had two goals and an assist.

Calgary 4, Buffalo 1--Goaltender Mike Vernon stopped 32 shots at Buffalo to lead the Flames to victory.

The Flames (21-14-1) have the third-best record in the league and trail Edmonton in the Smythe Division by just five points.

John Tonelli scored a goal and assisted on another for the Flames.

Winnipeg 5, Minnesota 4--Doug Smail picked a good time to end a 17-game scoring drought by getting the game-winner with 2:16 remaining at Winnipeg.

Goaltender Pokey Reddick saved the victory when he made a smothering save of Kent Nilsson’s penalty shot with five seconds remaining.

Neil Broten had a hat trick for the North Stars. He has five goals in three games after missing 20 because of a shoulder injury.

Chicago 7, Washington 5--The Blackhawks scored four unanswered goals in the last 12 1/2 minutes at Chicago to come from behind in a wild battle.

Three times, the Capitals built a two-goal lead and couldn’t hold it. Denis Savard, who assisted on three goals, broke a 5-5 tie with his 18th goal with 2:37 left.