European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - April 12, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Thursday april 12, 1990 the stars and stripes a a a Page 17kings push flames to Brink by the associated press just How important is Wayne Gretzky the Calgary flames who Are facing Gretzky a los Angeles Kings Are one game away from elimination in the first round of the nil playoffs a year after winning the Stanley cup. And the Winnipeg jets ousted from the playoffs five times in previous years by Gretzky led Edmonton Are suddenly within one game of eliminating the Oil ers from the Stanley cup Chase. With Gretzky passes igniting the of if Ense los Angeles parlayed a hat trick of a hat tricks into a 12-4 rout of the flames on tuesday night for a 3-1 Lead in the smythe division playoffs. Winnipeg which managed Only one a Victory in 18 playoff games against Edmonton when Gretzky was the ring Lead Stanley cup playoffs or got its third Victory in four games against the oilers when Dave Ellette a goal at 1 08 of the second overtime provided a 4-3 Triumph. In the Norris division Toronto averted being swept in its series with St. Louis by beating the blues 4-2, and Minnesota beat Chicago 4-0 to Square that series 22. Wednesday Boston was at Hartford and Buffalo was at Montreal in the Adams division playoffs with the Home teams leading 2-1. In the Patrick division the new York rangers carried a 2-1 Lead to Long Island against the new York islanders and new Jersey had a 2-1 Lead heading into Washington. A a it a Tough to get any recognition on this club a Gretzky joked after teammates Dave Taylor Tomas Sandstrom and Tony Granato scored three goals apiece against the flames. Gretzky scored his playoff record 87th goal and also had four assists As he and line mates Sandstrom and Granato combined for 1s Points. A it was one of the stranger ones in be been involved in no question a Gretzky said. A obviously everything we did we seemed to do right and Well. They had a Tough night.  be much tougher the next game a which is scheduled thursday night in Calgary. A a in be never seen anything like this in my career a flames defens Eman Gary Suter said. A Only in  Taylor scored twice in the first period with Todd Elik getting an assist each time As los Angeles built a 4-0 Lead. That merely set the stage for the record la. Is Belcher posses 3-hitter of san Diego by the associated press san Diego a Tim Belcher Isnit taking credit for near Miracle. A three hit shutout built on nothing fancy makes him think an abbreviated Spring training pin a to help anybody. I a i did no to do a lot of pitching out there a Belcher said after leading the los Angeles dodgers to a 1-0 Victory tuesday night Over the san Diego padres. A i threw an setting second period in which the teams combined for nine goals As the Kings built a 9-4 Lead. Gretzky a goal made it 82 and he assisted on goals by Granato and Sandstrom. Taylor got his third goal at 9 15 of the third period. Gretzky assisted As Sandstrom got his third at 13 59 and Granato completed the rout at 17 04, with Elik getting his third assist. A i had some great opportunities tonight some Nice plays a Taylor said. A the one by Todd Elik Early on in the game was right on my stick and it was just a matter of shooting. I picked up a rebound later on a breakaway coming out of the penalty Box. A things were falling right for us. 1 think we have to realize that. We done to want to get too High. We want to stay on an even keel. We want to stay with the see nil on Page 22nl Roundup occasional Good Slider and one curve Ball and one hangup. Outside of that i was just throwing fastball after fastball. A i guess the 32-Day lockout affected hitters As Well a Yakse Luey  missed a couple of pitches a said Elcher the major league Leader in shutouts last year Ith eight. A i threw a lot of fastballs. I was fortunate in that respect. It Wasny to Over pow eng but it was  a enough certainly to make newcomer Juan Samu i s Home run stand up. Elsewhere it was St. Louis 4, Montreal 2 Cincinnat Houston 2 and Chicago 2, Philadelphia 1. San Francisco a season opener at Atlanta was rained it and re scheduled wednesday. Belcher a Winner of eight straight decisions dating last season Hasni to lost since aug. 15. Cardinals 4, expos 2 ii the u is Bryn Smith it who left Montreal last a or Shiree ?8e9cy> heat his former teammates by r St Louis winning 0111 and a Ching five innings his single put the cardinals ahead 3-2 in the fourth Mno re no 9?Zie Smith who reached on a fielders Oice and advanced to third when Jose Oquendo got see no on Page 23 a a v u. I i i 4 m. M win Fri was Tiu win Phillies Darren Daulton ducks under shortstop Shawon Dunston a relay to first tuesday night at Wrigley Field. Push watches Stieb jays shut Down rangers a rpm Waivra w by Ben Walker to k a baseball writer d president Bush a ave in the old College try d showed off a Strong Arm. Dave Stieb did even better. Sedav Iok Tup sin8les in six scoreless innings fore a Jyro Quot to Bue beat Texas 2-1 me Mink apr n / inc used Bush Canadian incent ban Muroney and commissioner Fay d  go orge w Bush owns the rangers onial firs nissf311 be ??8 by throwing out Cere be univsrjrii8 5. A a former first baseman at Hersity also threw a Ball about 40 rows up theal Roundup first deck As he walked off the Field. Then Stieb and three relievers took Over combining on a five hitter As the Blue jays won for the 11 the time in 14 Home openers. The game Drew the 41st straight sellout in the sky dome. A it was quite a night for All of us what with the president and the prime minister Here a Toronto manager Cito Gaston said. A on the whole in a pleased with the Way this whole Day turned  in other games Oakland beat Minnesota 5-3, California stopped Seattle 7-0, Boston downed Detroit 4-2 and Chicago Defeated Milwaukee 5-3. The new York at Cleveland opener was rained out. Bush whose son did not attend and Mulroney watched from an upper deck vip Box and left after five innings. Mulroney was met by loud Boos because his unpopular tax on goods and services was passed earlier in the Day. Before the game Bush and Mulroney each visited both locker rooms. Bush whose adoptive Home state is Texas wore a Blue rangers jacket. A got to raise the Flag a he said. But Stieb spoiled it for Bush holding the rangers in see Al on Page 22