NHL Playoffs Roundup : Rangers Oust Flyers on 5-2 Win; Blues Also Advance

John Vanbiesbrouck bounced back from Sunday’s dismal performance to lead the New York Rangers into the second round of the Stanley Cup competition.

Vanbiesbrouck stopped 34 shots, including a number of spectacular saves, Tuesday night at Philadelphia as the Rangers won, 5-2, to take the first-round series, 3-2.

In the fourth game Sunday at New York, the young goaltender had given up five goals on 18 shots in just 25 minutes as the Flyers evened the series.

Ranger Coach Ted Sator never gave a thought to replacing Vanbiesbrouck in the decisive game. Without Vanbiesbrouck’s brilliant goaltending during the regular season, the Rangers would not have qualified for postseason play. He was in the nets for 31 of the Rangers’ 36 victories during the regular season.

When Willie Huber and Mark Osborne scored 71 seconds apart in the second period Tuesday night, the Rangers had a 3-1 lead. But Brad McCrimmon hit a bouncer that eluded Vanbiesbrouck with more than eight minutes left to make it 3-2.

Before the Flyers removed goaltender Bob Froese and the Rangers scored two goals into an empty net in the last 40 seconds, New York had some anxious moments.

The Flyers were expected to be the one team with a chance to halt Edmonton’s dash to a third consecutive Stanley Cup. Now, it is up to some other team to pull an upset.

The Rangers, who won two games at the Spectrum, will open a best-of-seven series against the Washington Capitals Thursday night at Landover, Md.

St. Louis 6, Minnesota 3--After spotting the North Stars two goals in less than five minutes, the Blues stormed back to win the series, 3-2, at Bloomington, Minn.

Greg Paslawski scored three goals, and Doug Gilmour had five assists to lead the St. Louis attack.

With the victory, the Blues will have the home-ice advantage when they open their second-round series with Toronto Friday.