Islanders tie Montreal, Rangers beat Devils
Islanders tie Montreal, Rangers beat Devils
MONTREAL (Reuter): Ray Ferraro's goal with 8:09 left in the third period lifted the New York Islanders into a 3-3 tie with the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday.
The deadlock left the Islanders three points behind Florida for the final Eastern Conference playoff berth and boosted Montreal into sole possession of fourth place, one point behind Pittsburgh.
Ferraro shoveled a backhander from the right faceoff circle over the left shoulder of Canadiens' goaltender Patrick Roy for the tying goal.
At New Jersey, Craig MacTavish scored with 2.8 seconds left to cap a four-goal second period and the New York Rangers tightened their hold on the overall NHL points' lead with a 4-2 victory over the New Jersey Devils.
Brian Leetch, Stephane Matteau and Alexei Kovalev also had second-period goals for the Rangers, who have won three straight and five of their last six games.
New York has 105 points, while second-place New Jersey has 101. Each team has five games remaining in the regular season.
In Anaheim, John Lilley, who played for the 1992 U.S Olympic Hockey Team, scored his first NHL goal, and Guy Hebert made 27 saves as the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs, 3-1.
Lilley scored at 4:37 of the third period for Anaheim, which won for the fourth time in its last five games.
In Los Angeles, Kirk Maltby had a goal and an assist and Scott Thornton put the Oilers up to stay with a second-period goal as Edmonton defeated Los Angeles Kings, 5-3.
Wayne Gretzky had his 38th goal and added an assist, boosting his league-leading points total to 125.
In Florida, Gord Murphy's power-play goal with 3:43 remaining in the second period lifted the Florida Panthers to a 2-2 tie with the Ottawa Senators.
Murphy blasted in a shot from the point, erasing a 2-1 Senator lead.
In Detroit, Detroit's Dino Ciccarelli and Calgary's Gary Roberts scored two goals apiece and the Western Conference division leaders skated to a 3-3 tie.
Flames' goaltender Trevor Kidd saved 15 shots in a scoreless third period and six in overtime as Detroit held a 32-28 edge in shots. Results
Detroit 3, Calgary 3 (OT) Edmonton 5, Los Angeles 3 Florida 2, Ottawa 2 (OT) Philadelphia 6, Hartford 5 NY Rangers 4, New Jersey 2 Buffalo 6, Quebec 2 Anaheim 3, Toronto 1 Montreal 3, NY Islanders 3 (OT) San Jose 7, Vancouver 4