European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - April 07, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Isiah Thomas directs traffic against the visiting Timber wolves Friday night. No doubt it s Thomas despite wrist splint by the associated press Auburn Hills Mich a if you looked at the Box score and not at the splint on his wrist you might not believe Isiah Thomas had missed a game. Thomas after missing 32 games with a wrist injury returned to the lineup Friday night and had 15 Points and 11 assists helping the Detroit pistons beat the Tim Ber wolves 101-82. Only the record books not his performance reveal his absence. Thomas hit four of seven shots and seven of eight free throws in a 33-minute performance. He Hadnot played since before his surgery Jan. 29, when a surgeon fused three Bones in the 10-time Allstar a right wrist and it was feared he  even return for the playoffs. A every play i wanted to make made a said Thomas who prior to this season had inside sports Swearengen a outdoor adventures a pag6 20 eagles lady generals in age finals a Page 21 american league West preview a Page 22 Cycle racing great turns 100 a Page 23 Bruins defeat whalers knot series at 1-1 Aba missed Only 22 games in his 10-year career. A i did no to have any  Thomas Wasny to cleared to play by doctors until Friday and the Detroit guard started the game and played with a splint to restrict his wrist motion. A Isiah looked like he never lost a beat a Detroit coach Chuck Daly said. A conditioning Wise in  Mark Aguirre Jed the pistons with 20 Points and John Salley added 19. Joe do Mars scored 15 Points but saw his team record consecutive free throw Streak end at 62. Tony Campbell led the Timber wolves with 22 Points. Detroit won its fifth straight game by see Aba on Page 18 by the associated press. Cam Neely scored three goals the last with 3 22 to play Friday night to snap a tie and give the Boston Bruins a 4-3 vie Lory Over the Hartford whalers the Bruins Victory at Boston Garden squared the Adams division playoff series at one game apiece. But the upstart whalers still have the Home ice advantage after winning the opener in the Garden. In the other Adams series Guy car Bonneau scored with 1 21 left to give the Montreal canadians a 5-4 Victory Over the Buffalo sabres and a 2-0 series Lead. It was get even night for two teams in the Patrick division Side of the Wales conference  Beaupre got his third shutout in nine Days As Washington beat new York 3-0 at Madison Square Garden and wrested the Home ice advantage from the rangers. A at Pittsburgh Rookie Jaromir jagr scored his first playoff goal at 8 52 of overtime As the penguins overcame three one goal deficits to beat the new Jersey devils 54 and even their Patrick division semifinal series at one win each. The Wales conference series continue sunday at new Jersey Washington Hartford and Buffalo. In the Campbell conference on saturday Minnesota was at Chicago and Detroit visited St. Louis in the Norris and Vancouver played at los Angeles and Edmonton was at Calgary in the smythe. Each of the Road teams won the series opener on thursday scoring goals is what Neely who had 51 during the season does Best. His second goal Friday night tied the game and five minutes later he put in the game win a i was excited but i Wasny to saying to myself a this is what in be got to do because that a when i get in trouble a Neely said As the Bruins faced a 3-2 third period deficit and the Chance of falling behind 2-0 at Home a when things done to go the Way i like them to go i get frustrated a said Neely who converted passes from Craig Janney into the tying and winning goals. A a huge win of course a Bruins coach Mike Milbury said. A a it a Clear its still not going to be an easy  Neelys first goal was a 60-foot slap shot that tied the score 2-2 at 9 22 of the second period. Randy Ladouceur who had just one goal in 67 regular season games put Hartford ahead 3-2 at 18 12 of the second period the game started out like the opener in which Jeff Taitaro scored for Boston 23 seconds into the game. This time Petri Skripko got his second playoff goal with 13 seconds gone when be deflected in Glen the stars and stripes ports april 7,1991 b Page 24 Stanley cup playoffs Wesley a slap shot. Mark Hunter tied the game at 5 18 on Hartford a second shot and Pat Verbeek put the whalers ahead 2-1 with a Power play goal at 18 55 of the first period. Canadians 5, sabres 4 Montreal a Mike Mcphee was wide with a Backhander but Carbonneau took the the rebound off the end boards and slipped it under Daren Puppa for the canadians a game  a Stephane Richer tied it at 9 51 with a blast from the Blue line to make it 4-4. \ a a a. Brent Gilchrist Mike Mcphee and Russ Courtnell also scored for Montreal. Uwe Krupp Pierre Turgon Dale Hawer Chuk and Darrin Shannon scored for the sabres who have not advanced beyond the first round of playoffs since 1983, capitals 3, rangers 0 new York a Beaupre made 35 saves for his second playoff shutout and the capitals used defense and penalty killing to beat the rangers. Beaupre the nil regular season shutout Leader with five protected a 1-0 Lead for More than two periods with the capitals skating shorthanded much of that time. The rangers had eight Power play chances but were shut Down by Beaupre and the capitals a penalty killing unit ranked no. 1 in the nil during the regu Lar season. Penguins 5, devils 4, of Pittsburgh a jagr the penguins top pick in last june sentry draft won the game with a spectacular individual Effort. He fought off two checks along the right boards Cut in on goal and Dekea goaltender Chris Terreri to the ice before flipping the puck into the net. It was Only the second shot on goal for see nil on Page 18 by the associated press add Chet Lemon to the list of out of work millionaires and make Rickey Henderson questionable for opening Day. Lemon on Friday joined Pete Incaviglia Fernando Valenzuela and Steve bal Boni As High priced players without jobs when he was Cut by the Detroit tigers Lemon 35, is in the final season of a four year $3.7 million contract. He will receive $1.1 million in termination pay a $800,000 for this season and a $300,000 buyout for 1992.spring training earlier this Spring Oddie Mcdowell Andres Thomas and Calvin Schiraldi were other familiar names put on waivers. R Lemon was a three time All Star outfielder. He has a career .273 average with the Chicago White sox and Detroit. Lemon batted .226 in 13 exhibition games and has a sore shoulder that prevents him from throwing. Tigers manager Sparky Anderson said the emergence of Rookie Milt Cuyler plus the off season signing of Rob Deer made Lemon expendable. A the played in a lot of games a Anderson said. A sixteen years. He does no to have to feel bad about his career. No sir. But they All end some time. That a the Way baseball a always  the tigers gave a Job to infielder Luis de los Santos when they claimed him off waivers from Kansas City. De los Santos 24, has played in 39 major league games see baseball on Page 18