NHL STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS : Capitals Go Past Rangers in Overtime, 5-4

Dino Ciccarelli scored 6:44 into overtime on Washington’s 55th shot, giving the Capitals a 5-4 victory over the New York Rangers Thursday night and moving them to within one victory of the Patrick Division finals.

The Capitals lead the series, 3-2, and can advance with a victory at Landover, Md., Saturday night.

The Capitals, who outshot the Rangers, 55-35, sent the game to overtime on Kevin Hatcher’s goal at 12:59 of the third period.

Washington dominated the first two periods with 34 shots to 16 by the Rangers but were tied, 3-3.

New York went ahead, 4-3, when rookie Stephen Rice beat Don Beaupre from in front at 9:29 of the third period.

Goals by Corey Millen and Bernie Nicholls gave the Rangers a 2-1 lead after one period, with Mike Ridley scoring for Washington.

Washington took a 3-2 lead on goals by Kelly Miller and Mike Lalor in the second period, but New York tied it on a goal by Mark Janssens at 18:31.

Montreal 4, Buffalo 3--Russ Courtnall scored on a breakaway 5:56 into overtime at Montreal and the Canadiens took a 3-2 lead in their Adams Division series by outlasting the Sabres.

The Canadiens can advance to the division finals with a victory at Buffalo on Saturday.

Buffalo’s Dave Andreychuk forced overtime when he knocked in Alexander Mogilny’s feed on a power play with 3:05 left.

Mike Keane put goals past Clint Malarchuk in the first and second periods, and Brian Skrudland also scored for the Canadiens. Lou Franceschetti and defenseman Grant Ledyard, with his third of the series, scored for Buffalo.

New Jersey 4, Pittsburgh 2--Claude Lemieux batted in Kirk Muller’s centering pass with 7:01 left and the Devils withstood the Penguins’ third-period comeback to win at Pittsburgh.

The Devils took a 3-2 lead in the series and can reach the Patrick Division finals with a victory Saturday night at East Rutherford, N.J.

The Devils got their first three goals on power plays to overcome third-period goals by Ron Francis and Larry Murphy 2:47 apart to win at Pittsburgh for the second time in the series. The Devils were 0-4 at the Civic Arena during the regular season.

The Devils, again riding outstanding goaltending by Chris Terreri, stopped all seven of Pittsburgh’s power-play chances. The Penguins are four for 30 on power plays in the series.

Bruce Driver scored a goal and set up another in the first period as the Devils took a 2-0 lead.

Pittsburgh defenseman Paul Coffey sat out the game with a scratched left cornea.

Boston 6, Hartford 1--Ray Bourque’s fluke goal started a six-goal outburst in the third period as the Bruins defeated the Whalers at Boston to take a 3-2 lead in the Adams Division series. Boston can clinch it with a victory Saturday night at Hartford, Conn.

The Whalers used aggressive checking to dominate the first two periods but led only 1-0 on Brad Shaw’s goal at 7:16 of the second.

Bourque scored his second playoff goal on an 80-footer at 1:20 on a power play, and Dave Christian got his third 16 seconds later. Jeff Lazaro made it 3-1 at 8:05.

Cam Neely connected twice on power plays at 10:20 and 16:57 and Jim Wiemer scored on another power play at 17:53.

Boston was outshot, 24-16, in the first two periods, but held a 16-2 advantage in the third.