NHL ROUNDUP : Heat Is On: Canadiens, Flames Tie

The calendar says January, but the intensity suggested springtime at Montreal where the Canadiens and Calgary Flames skated to a 2-2 tie Monday night.

“It was a playoff game tonight,” Montreal Coach Pat Burns said of the physical, fast-paced game. “It was a man’s game. It was for big guys. Bumping and grinding and people getting run over. That’s the way the Flames play, and that’s how we like to play them.”

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Kirk Muller and John LeClair scored power-play goals for Adams Division-leading Montreal (29-14-3), 7-1-1 in its last nine games.

Paul Ranheim and Joe Nieuwendyk scored for the Flames, 6-1-1 in their last eight.

Edmonton 7, Minnesota 4--Vincent Damphousse extended his goal-scoring streak to five games with a third-period goal that broke a 4-4 tie against the North Stars at Bloomington, Minn.

Damphousse beat Jon Casey with a slap shot from the right circle for his 26th goal of the season with 4:06 to play to give the Oilers a 5-4 lead.

Craig MacTavish and Joe Murphy scored in the final minute as the Oilers ended their four-game winless streak.

Ulf Dahlen’s 21st goal of the season had tied the score for Minnesota at 10:56 of the third period.