NHL Roundup : Rangers, After Trailing by 3 Goals, Tie Bruins

The Boston Bruins appeared to have the New York Rangers right where they wanted them after taking a 3-0 lead barely 10 minutes into Friday night’s game in New York.

But Bruin goaltender Andy Moog didn’t think the lead would hold up--and it didn’t.

“I’ve seen too many tough games in this building, and the Rangers are playing very well right now,” Moog said after the Adams and Patrick Division leaders played to a 4-4 tie.

In fact, the Bruins’ lead barely lasted for a full period, as the Rangers scored twice late in the first period and twice more in a 1:45 span midway through the second period to take the lead. Boston salvaged a tie on Andy Brickley’s deflection with 4:37 remaining.

The Rangers lost their 6-game home winning streak but are now unbeaten in 7 straight games at Madison Square Garden.

“We believe in ourselves,” said rookie Tony Granato, whose goal put the Rangers ahead, 4-3. “To battle back that way, we showed a lot of character.”

New Jersey 3, N.Y. Islanders 3--Mark Johnson and Bruce Driver scored power-play goals during a 1:45 stretch as the Devils rallied for a tie at East Rutherford, N.J.

The game was the first between the teams since New Jersey ousted the Islanders in the opening round of the National Hockey League playoffs last spring, and the only thing that kept the Islanders in the game was goalie Kelly Hrudey, who stopped 42 shots.

The Devils, who were 3 for 30 on power plays in their last 5 games, were 3 for 7 with a player advantage against the Islanders.

Chicago 6, Winnipeg 5--Wayne Presley’s unassisted goal at 1:59 of overtime capped a Chicago rally from a 3-0 first-period deficit as the Blackhawks won at Winnipeg.

Presley picked up a loose puck and skated unmolested down the slot before firing the puck past Winnipeg goaltender Pokey Reddick.

“I picked up a loose puck at center and started going toward the net,” Presley said. “They just all parted away and let me go in. I got a shot away and it hit off his pad and went in.”

Montreal 3, Vancouver 1--Claude Lemieux scored 2 goals to lead the Canadiens at Vancouver.

Lemieux, who had a career-best 31 goals last season, scored in the first and third periods, and rookie Brent Gilchrist got his first NHL goal in the second period.