NHL Roundup : Jets Win Again, but This Time in Overtime, 3-2

Paul MacLean scored his 36th goal with just 19 seconds remaining in overtime Friday night at Quebec to lead the Winnipeg Jets to a 3-2 victory over the Nordiques.

In winning for the seventh time in the last eight games on the road, the surprising Jets moved five points ahead of Calgary in the battle for second place in the Smythe Division.

It was five years ago that the Jets had the worst season in NHL history, winning only 9 of 80 games and going a record 30 consecutive winless games. In their second season under former Kings’ defenseman Barry Long, they have joined the NHL elite.

Their 38th victory gave the Jets a club-record 83 points, and fourth place overall in the league. The Jets, although they qualified for the playoffs each of the last three seasons, had never won more than 33 games in a season.

“Our guys play a real free-wheeling style on the road, and when we do that we play a lot better,” Long said. “Tonight, we toughened up our defense.”

The Jets went into the final period holding a 2-0 lead and were dominating play. But they tried to sit on the lead and Mark Kumpel and Anton Stastny scored to tie the game.

The Jets regained command in the overtime but seemed destined to get only a tie as time wound down. However, Dale Hawerchuk gave MacLean a centering pass, and MacLean lofted the puck over goaltender Mario Gosselin’s shoulder.

The Nordiques, who have been playing the best hockey in the Adams Division lately, missed a chance to tie Montreal for first place. The Nordiques are 4-2-1 in their last seven games. Both defeats were administered by the Jets.

Buffalo 4, Edmonton 4--Jari Kurri, the league’s leading goal scorer, got his 67th of the season with 4:06 remaining at Edmonton to give the slumping Oilers a tie.

The score came while Buffalo’s Jerry Korab was sitting out a five-minute penalty, and was set up by a Wayne Gretzky pass. The assist gave Gretzky at least a point in 18 consecutive games.

The Oilers have the best record in the league, but have won only two of the last nine games.

The Sabres had a chance to win in overtime, but Edmonton goalie Grant Fuhr made the save when Brent Peterson went in alone with only two seconds left.

Detroit 6, Vancouver 5--Danny Gare scored midway through the third period at Vancouver to give the Red Wings the win, eliminate the Canucks from the playoffs and move into a tie for third place in the Norris Division.

By eliminating the Canucks, the Red Wings assured the Kings a playoff spot.