NHL Roundup : Whalers’ Liut Shuts Down Capitals, 3-1

When Joel Quinneville, the key to the Hartford defense, went out of action two weeks ago with a shoulder separation, it was feared the Whalers were headed for disaster.

Instead, goaltender Mike Liut has rallied the defense and the Whalers are leading the Adams Division.

Liut shut out the Washington Capitals for 50 minutes Tuesday night at Landover, Md., and the Whalers skated to a 3-1 victory. Liut stopped 26 shots, losing his shutout when Craig Laughlin deflected a shot into the net with 9:25 remaining.

In the five games since the injury to Quinneville, Liut has given up just five goals and the Whalers are 3-0-2.

Meanwhile, the Whalers, who lead Montreal by two points and have played four fewer games than the Canadiens, fired 42 shots at Bob Mason.

Dean Evason, a Capitals’ castoff, broke the scoreless tie late in the first period with his ninth goal of the season. Ron Francis and Kevin Dineen also scored before Liut lost his shutout.

The Capitals were missing Alan Haworth, Mike Gartner and defensive ace Rod Langway because of injuries and illness.

Calgary 4, New Jersey 3--John Tonelli scored consecutive goals in the third period at East Rutherford, N.J., to help the Flames overcome a two-goal deficit.

The Flames trailed, 3-1, until Hakan Loob scored six minutes into the final period. With 4:35 left in regulation, Tonelli tied it and then won it with 23 seconds to go.

Chicago 5, New York Islanders 3--Steve Larmer scored two goals, and goalie Bob Sauve stopped 38 shots at Uniondale, N.Y. The Blackhawks are 6-1-0 since Sauve was named No. 1 goaltender.

It was the Blackhawks’ second win in a row at Nassau Coliseum, where they had failed to win in 23 consecutive games.

New York Rangers 5, Pittsburgh 3--Walt Poddubny scored his second goal of the game with 5:54 left at Pittsburgh to clinch the Ranger victory. The slumping Penguins are winless in their last eight games (0-5-3).

Quebec 6, Montreal 3--In another skirmish in the Battle of Quebec Province, Michel Goulet scored twice and had an assist at Quebec to lead the Nordiques.

As usual when the two bitter rivals meet, there were fights. In the first period, there were 68 minutes in penalties handed out.

One of the fights involved backup Quebec goalie Richard Sevigny and Claude Lemieux of the Canadiens when Lemieux was being checked near the Quebec bench.

St. Louis 4, Boston 3--In a battle of two slumping teams at St. Louis, rookie Brian Benning’s score triggered a three-goal outburst in 2:09 of the first period and the Blues barely held on.

It was the fifth loss in a row for the Bruins and only the second win in nine games for the Blues.

Edmonton 7, Vancouver 3--Wayne Gretzky scored two goals, the second of which moved him ahead of Guy Lafleur into 10th place on the all-time NHL list with 520, as the Oilers beat the Canucks at Vancouver.