clarinews@clarinet.com (01/16/90)
MONTREAL (UPI) -- Todd Ewen scored his first goal of the season Monday night, leading the Montreal Canadiens to a 4-3 victory over the Minnesota North Stars. Ewen, aquired Dec. 12 from St. Louis, knocked in a rolling puck sfter Brian Skrudland's shot bounced off Minnesota defenseman Larry Murphy. The Canadiens, with just one loss in their last six games, moved into a second-place tie in the Adams Divison with the idle Buffalo Sabres. Minnesota, 0-6-1 in their last seven road games, haven't won away from home since a victory at Toronto on Dec. 16. Brian Bellows had pulled the North Stars to a 3-3 tie with his second goal of the game, a power-play tally at 8:24 of the third period. Bellows found goaltender Patrick Roy sliding out of the crease and blasted a drive into the far side of the net. Stephane Richer broke a 2-2 tie with his 27th goal at 6:55 of the second period. Richer took control of the puck at the Minnesota blue line, skated in on goaltender Kari Takko and blasted a drive into the short side of the net. Mike Keane put Montreal ahead 1-0 at 4:33 of the first period when he faked a pass and beat Takko to his far side. But Minnesota tied the score just 40 seconds later when Bellows scored his 30th goal with a 30-foot drive past Roy. Mike McPhee banged home Claude Lemieux's rebound at 8:55, giving the Canadiens a 2-1 margin. But Murphy connected on a 50-foot drive for a power-play goal at 15:31 to even the score 2-2. With goalie Brian Hayward sidelined because of a bruised right knee, the Canadiens called up Andre Racicot from Sherbrooke as the backup to Roy.