NHL Roundup : Lemieux’s Slump Costs Penguins

As Mario Lemieux’s chances of breaking Wayne Gretzky’s scoring records become more remote, the struggles of the Pittsburgh Penguins increase.

Lemieux had only an assist Tuesday night at Pittsburgh and the Minnesota North Stars ended a four-game losing streak, 2-1.

A victory would have put the Penguins back in first place in the Patrick Division, which is having a sensational race. Instead, Wally Schreiber’s goal halfway through the last period, handed them their third consecutive defeat.

Lemieux’s only point was a fluke. Early in the second period, from behind the net, Lemieux’s pass went in front to Jock Callander. Callander’s shot caromed off Minnesota defenseman Curt Giles into the net.

The fluke score gave the Penguins a 1-0 lead. The good luck of the Penguins turned sour halfway through the period. Ville Siren of the Stars took a shot from the point, it hit a Pittsburgh stick, bounced off the stick of Minnesota’s Dino Ciccarelli and went into the net for Ciccarelli’s 31st goal and a 1-1 tie.

Schreiber’s goal was no fluke. He directed, with his stick, a shot from the point into the net past goalie Tom Barrasso. It was only his second in 18 games.

With 20 games left, Lemieux needs 30 goals and 59 points to tie Gretzky’s records. Three weeks ago, Lemieux was on a pace that would have wiped both records out.

Lemieux usually gets a number of goals and assists on power plays. He is the main reason the Penguins have more goals with a player advantage than anyone else. Against goalie Kari Takko, the Penguins had five power-play opportunities and didn’t convert one. Takko had 37 saves, at least seven when his team was short-handed.

Vancouver 2, St. Louis 0--The impressive goaltending of Kirk McLean continued at Vancouver and the Canucks set a club record with their sixth victory in a row.

McLean, in winning his fifth consecutive game, recorded his second shutout and improved his record to 15-11-4.

Defensemen Larry Melnyk and Doug Lidster scored first-period goals and the rest of the night the defense prevented the Blues from getting good shots on goal.

The winning streak has put the Canucks nine points ahead of Winnipeg in the battle for the last playoff spot in the Smythe Division.

Detroit 6, New York Islanders 5--If the Red Wings do hang on and win the Norris Division, it will be largely because Steve Yzerman is having a banner season.

Yzerman scored two goals and assisted on another at Uniondale, N.Y., to lead the Wings to a hard-earned victory that extended their lead to 11 points.

The goals gave Yzerman 55. He is tied with John Ogrodnick for the club record in a season. He has 123 points, breaking Marcel Dionne’s record of 121 set in the 1974-75 season. With 28 games left, Yzerman is certain to extend the records considerably.

Quebec 4, Winnipeg 3--Michel Goulet and Marc Fortier scored goals six minutes apart in the second period at Quebec to bring the Nordiques from behind.

The Jets had won two in a row by coming from behind in the last period, but this time, they couldn’t get the puck past goalie Ron Tugnutt in the final 33 minutes.

Edmonton 7, Hartford 4--Mark Messier scored four goals at Edmonton as the Oilers ended a three-game losing streak. The victory enabled the Oilers to pull within three points of the Kings in the battle for second in the Smythe Division.