NHL Roundup : With Patrick Back as Coach, Rangers Win, 3-1

Ron Greschner and Chris Kontos scored power-play goals Thursday night, and the New York Rangers made the return of Craig Patrick as coach a successful one with a 3-1 victory over the Detroit Red Wings at New York.

Patrick took over behind the Rangers’ bench after firing Herb Brooks Monday. In his previous stint as the Rangers’ coach, in 1980-81, Patrick had a 26-23-11 record.

Peter Sundstrom added a short-handed goal for New York.

Quebec 4, Montreal 3--Bruce Bell’s second goal of the game with 1:29 remaining lifted the Nordiques past the Canadiens at Montreal.

The loss was Montreal’s first to the Nordiques this season after four victories and a tie.

Boston 5, Buffalo 2--Rick Middleton scored the key goal as the Bruins knocked off the Sabres at Boston and pulled into a third-place tie with Pittsburgh in the Patrick Division, three points behind Buffalo and seven points back of Montreal.

N.Y. Islanders 4, Toronto 1--Brent Sutter scored a controversial goal with 39 seconds remaining in the first period to start the Islanders to their win over the Maple Leafs at Uniondale, N.Y.