NHL ROUNDUP : LaFontaine Leads Islanders, 4-3

A bitter contract dispute does not prevent Pat LaFontaine from playing well for the New York Islanders.

LaFontaine scored the tying goal and assisted on another Saturday night at Uniondale, N.Y., to lead the Islanders to a 4-3 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins.

After LaFontaine tied the game with his 33rd goal at 6:27 of the third period, Patrick Flatley scored the winner with seven minutes left in regulation.

A couple of hours earlier, Bill Torry, general manager of the Islanders, accused LaFontaine of damaging the team by putting his contract above the good of the team.

LaFontaine, who earns $425,000 on a contract that goes through next season, said that if the Islanders weren’t ready to renegotiate, he wanted to be traded.

The Islanders are last in the Patrick Division, 11 points out of the final playoff spot. This was their 20th victory in 60 games.

“I’ve played seven seasons for the Islanders and I’m proud of those seasons,� LaFontaine said. “I live in Long Island and I love it here. It’s just an unfortunate situation.

“I am not happy with the way the organization has handled negotiations. I know I deserve more money.�

Mario Lemieux, steadily working himself into shape after being out almost a year because of back problem, scored his sixth goal in eight games in the first period to give the Penguins the lead.

LaFontaine’s goal came when he batted a rebound out of mid-air into the net.

Minnesota 3, Detroit 0--The Red Wings tried roughing up goalie Jon Casey at Detroit, but that didn’t work. Casey only had to face 18 shots to get his third shutout of the season.

Casey took two shots and an elbow from Detroit’s Bob Probert, but the only evidence afterward was a sore collarbone. “I thought a train hit me,� he said.

New Jersey 3, Philadelphia 2--The Flyers seem to bring out the best in the Devils.

Rookie Zdeno Ciger had a goal and an assist at East Rutherford, N.J., and Chris Terreri made 34 saves for the Devils.

The Devils moved to within a point of the Flyers in the battle for third place in the Patrick Division. The Devils are 4-1-2 against the Flyers this season.

Toronto 3, Edmonton 2--A couple of weeks ago, it seemed the Oilers were as good as any team in the NHL. And they were expecting the return of goaltender Grant Fuhr.

Fuhr, reinstated after being suspended for drug use, returns next week. He will find a team in disarray.

Lucien DeBlois and Peter Zezel scored goals nine seconds apart in the second period at Toronto to spark the Maple Leafs. The Oilers are 3-6-0 this month.

Vancouver 4, Washington 2--The Canucks trailed, 2-0, after 43 minutes at Vancouver. They caught up on goals by Ron Stern and Gerald Diduck, only 39 seconds apart.

Dan Quinn climaxed the sudden rally with the game-winner with eight minutes left in regulation. An empty-net goal in the last minute ended the scoring.

Hartford 2, Montreal 1--Rob Brown and Brad Shaw scored in the first period at Montreal and Daryl Reaugh stopped 31 shots for the Whalers.

The Whalers moved back to .500 (27-27-6) and into third place in the Adams Division.