NHL ROUNDUP : Rangers Get Past Flyers to Clinch Patrick Title

The New York Rangers continue to look like the team to beat once the playoffs begin.

Tony Amonte scored the go-ahead goal with four minutes remaining Tuesday night at Philadelphia to give the Rangers a 4-3 victory that clinched the title in the Patrick Division.

The victory made the Rangers, who have the best record in the NHL, the first team to reach 100 points. They have 101. It’s the first time they’ve reached 100 since the 1972-73 season.

The Flyers had won five in a row and had lost only two of their previous 20 games at home.

The Flyers appeared to outplay the Rangers for two periods but still trailed, 2-1.

After falling behind, 3-1, in the final period, Philadelphia pulled even on two goals by Rod Brind’Amour. But Amonte’s 34th goal extended the Rangers unbeaten streak to seven games (6-0-1).

Detroit 4, Pittsburgh 3--Mario Lemieux got his 1,000th point at Detroit, but it was the Red Wings who had the big night.

Lemieux had a goal and two assists to become the 36th player in NHL history to reach four figures, but the Red Wings moved a step closer to the Norris Division title. It was a turnabout for Detroit, which had lost its three previous home games and won only two of its past 10 games.

Kevin Miller led the Red Wings with two goals, and Detroit moved to a nine-point lead over Chicago with only six games left in the regular season.

Lemieux, who was playing only his 60th game, had his 40th goal and increased his point total to 118, best in the league.

Hartford 8, Washington 2--Murray Craven scored on a penalty shot at Landover, Md., and the Whalers overwhelmed the Capitals to clinch a playoff spot.

The Capitals missed a chance to clinch second place in the Patrick Division. It was Washington’s biggest losing margin at home this season.

Edmonton 4, Calgary 4--The Oilers appeared to have all but extinguished the playoff hopes of the Flames when they built a 4-2 lead at Calgary. But Gary Roberts and Al MacInnis scored 40 seconds apart in the third period to give Calgary a tie.

The Flames, with six games left, trail Winnipeg by five points for the final playoff spot in the Smythe Division.

Quebec 5, New York Islanders 2--Owen Nolan scored two goals at Quebec to give him 41, but the Nordiques were eliminated from the playoffs when Hartford also won. The Nordiques, who have only six games to play, have 47 points. The Whalers have 60.

Quebec has failed to qualify for postseason play for five seasons in a row. Rookie goalie Stephane Fiset was impressive for the Nordiques, stopping 28 of the first 29 New York shots, giving up the second goal with four seconds left.

New Jersey 4, San Jose 3--Rookie Jarod Skalde scored the go-ahead goal midway through the second period at East Rutherford, N.J., and the Devils ended an eight-game winless streak.

The victory enabled the Devils to regain third place in the Patrick Division from Pittsburgh.

Vancouver 4, Minnesota 2--Pavel Bure, the former Soviet Union star, spoiled the North Stars’ opportunity to move closer to a playoff berth at Bloomington, Minn. Bure scored twice and assisted on another to give the Smythe Division champions their 11th victory in their last 17 games. Bure has 17 goals and eight assists in the last 17 games.

The North Stars, with six games left, lead Toronto by six points in the fight for the final playoff spot in the Norris Division.