Sport in Short: Ice Hockey

ROGER NIELSON has been dismissed as the coach of New York Rangers, despite winning the Patrick Division of the Wales Conference last season with the best record in the National Hockey League.

NHL: Buffalo Sabres 6 St Louis Blues 5 (OT); Minnesota North Stars 6 Hartford Whalers 6 (OT); Edmonton Oilers 2 Philadelphia Flyers 2 (OT); Chicago Blackhawks 4 Winnipeg Jets 1.

----------------------------------------------------------------- WALES CONFERENCE ----------------------------------------------------------------- Patrick Division ----------------------------------------------------------------- W L T Pts Pittsburgh Penguins 27 9 4 58 Washington Capitals 21 16 4 46 New York Rangers 19 17 4 42 New Jersey Devils 18 17 2 38 New York Islanders 17 18 4 38 Philadelphia Flyers 13 19 6 32 ----------------------------------------------------------------- Adams Division ----------------------------------------------------------------- Quebec Nordiques 22 13 6 50 Montreal Canadiens 22 14 5 49 Boston Bruins 22 14 2 46 Buffalo Sabres 18 15 6 42 Hartford Whalers 11 24 4 26 Ottawa Senators 3 35 3 9 ----------------------------------------------------------------- CAMPBELL CONFERENCE ----------------------------------------------------------------- Norris Division ----------------------------------------------------------------- W L T Pts Chicago Blackhawks 23 14 5 51 Detroit Red Wings 22 17 3 47 Minnesota North Stars 19 14 6 44 Toronto Maple Leafs 15 16 7 37 St Louis Blues 13 20 6 32 Tampa Bay Lightning 14 24 2 30 ----------------------------------------------------------------- Smythe Division ----------------------------------------------------------------- Calgary Flames 25 10 4 54 Vancouver Canucks 23 10 4 50 Los Angeles Kings 20 14 5 45 Winnipeg Jets 15 20 4 34 Edmonton Oilers 14 21 6 34 San Jose Sharks 6 31 2 14 -----------------------------------------------------------------