Whalers Crush Rangers, Retake Lead for Presidents’ Trophy

It was their most convincing win of the season, a game that was over before most fans were comfortably in their seats at Madison Square Garden. Hartford continued their strong play in 1996, drubbing the New York Rangers 8-1 and thoroughly dominating them throughout, with a 46-15 shot advantage. Todd Bergen, who started off the season slowly, had a hand in the first three goals, scoring twice and adding an assist before the 13-minute mark of the 1^st period, while Denis Savard scored his 28^th goal in just 36 games.

The victory, on the heels of a win against the Vancouver Canucks, now gives Hartford 63 points through 39 games, with a 30-6-3 record, leading the NFHL. Savard’s torrid start puts Mario Lemieux’s single-season goal mark of 46, hit in 1994, well within reach, while Wayne Gretzky’s all-time single-season record of 61, achieved in 1992, might be within striking distance.

Meanwhile, the light workload for Don Beaupre continued to help his numbers, propelling him to the top of the goalie leaderboard with a 2.50 GAA, barely surpassing Kelly Hrudey’s 2.60 GAA in Colorado. Hartford is off tonight before retaking the ice on Tuesday against the hapless Leafs.