NHL Roundup : Sabre Playing Like a Rookie, and That’s Good

Tom Barrasso came out of a Massachusetts high school to become a sensation in the National Hockey League.

In 1983-84, the 18-year-old American-born rookie won the Vezina Trophy, which goes to the leading goalie. For two seasons, he was generally acknowledged as the best goalie in the sport.

By the time he was 21, he was almost forgotten, having even been sent to the minors for a brief time. As the Sabres’ fortunes sank, so did Barrasso’s.

Barrasso emerged from the doghouse late last season after Ted Sator replaced Scotty Bowman as coach. But it has been only recently that the 6-3, 200-pounder has begun to play back to his teen-age form.

A five-year veteran at 22, Barrasso has had four big games in the last 10 days.

The big youngster stopped 27 shots Sunday at Buffalo to lead the Sabres to a 2-1 victory over Quebec and vault his team into third place in the Adams Division.

Just as he was Saturday night, Barrasso was almost perfect in the last two periods as he won two games in a row for the first time this season.

In a game a week ago, Barrasso stopped 42 shots in a 3-3 tie. In the last four games, he has yielded only 10 goals.

“This is the Barrasso we knew a few years back,” said Dave Andreychuk, one of the few Sabres remaining from Barrasso’s rookie year. “He is playing as well as I’ve seen him since those first two seasons.”

Barrasso gave up a goal to Gaetan Duchesne late in the first period, then stopped 21 consecutive shots to close out the game. Saturday night, he stopped 35 shots, getting tough after a shaky start.

Calgary 5, Chicago 3--Mike Bullard scored on two power plays at Chicago, and rookie Joe Nieuwendyk scored his 17th power-play goal as the Flames increased their lead in the Smythe Division to three points.

Denis Savard scored twice in the first period to give the Blackhawks an early lead. But the Flames scored four goals in a row, with Bullard’s 26th goal giving them the lead for good, 3-2, in the last minute of the second period.

Nieuwendyk’s goal was his 28th. He leads the NHL in power-play goals and leads all rookies in goals.

Winnipeg 4, Detroit 4--All the Jets needed to do to win this one at Winnipeg was to contain Steve Yzerman.

Of course, nobody has stopped the Red Wings’ star lately. He extended his consecutive-points streak to 19 games by scoring a hat trick and setting up Gerard Gallant’s tying goal.

Only 5:26 was left in regulation when Yzerman passed to Gallant for the tying goal.

The Jets extended their unbeaten string in overtime games to 10 (6-0-4).