clarinews@clarinet.com (02/02/90)
INGLEWOOD, Calif. (UPI) -- Duane Sutter and Dirk Graham scored 57 seconds apart to trigger a six-goal second period Thursday night, lifting the Chicago Blackhawks to a 7-4 victory over the Los Angeles Kings. Doug Wilson scored twice for Chicago, which increased its Norris Division lead to six points over idle Toronto. Bob Kudelski had two goals for Los Angeles, which has won just two of its last 13 games (2-9-2). During the game, Kings owner Bruce McNall announced that Wayne Gretzky had agreed to a 2-year contract extension that could keep the NHL's all-time leading scorer in Los Angeles through 1998. McNall said the contract is worth $29.4 million. Gretzky had a goal and an assist for 103 points this season, tying him with Pittsburgh's Mario Lemieux for the NHL scoring lead. After trailing 2-1 after one period, the Blackhawks reeled off five goals in a 5:38 span early in the second period to take control. It was the fastest five goals in Chicago history, eclipsing the previous mark of 6:24 set against Montreal in 1970. Sutter started the onslaught with a rebound shot at 2:12 to tie it at 2-2. Less than a minute later, Graham beat goalie Kelly Hrudey with a 20-foot wrist shot to the short side to put Chicago ahead to stay. Wilson added his second goal at 5:43 on a power play when he stole the puck from Steve Kasper at the blue line and beat Hrudey on a breakaway. Mike Hudson then made it 5-2 40 seconds later on another breakaway. Hrudey, who faced just 15 shots, was replaced 25 seconds later by Mario Gosselin. But Jocelyn Lemieux scored for Chicago 62 seconds later for his first goal in 11 games since coming in a trade from Montreal. The Kings received goals from Todd Elik and Kudelski to cut their deficit to 6-4. But Jeremy Roenick, who assisted on two earlier goals, netted his 16th goal of the year at 12:01 to boost the Blackhawk lead to 7-4. Wilson started the scoring just 29 seconds into the game with his 17th goal. Kudelski drew Los Angeles even at 4:09, with Larry Robinson getting an assist on the play. That pushed the 18-year veteran past Bobby Orr into second place on the all-time scoring list for defensemen. With 37 seconds left in the period, Gretzky slipped a backhander behind goalie Jacques Cloutier on a power play for a 2-1 lead.