NHL Playoffs : Rangers Hoping to Turn Tables on the Flyers

In theory, the best-of-seven format should favor the superior team.

So far the theory hasn’t worked for the Philadelphia Flyers. Four games into their Patrick Division semifinal, the first-place Flyers are tied with the fourth-place New York Rangers entering Game 5 tonight.

“The momentum should be in our favor playing at home,” said Philadelphia Coach Mike Keenan. “It’s a best-of-three series (from now on). It’s hopefully advantageous for us to be playing at home and going into the next game with the support of the Spectrum crowd.”

It hasn’t worked out that way against the Rangers this season. New York’s 3-0 victory in the first game of the series at the Spectrum was its fourth in five games there this season.

Winnipeg at Calgary: The Flames, who lost in the final of the Stanley Cup playoffs last season, need to win three straight games to survive this year’s opening round.

Game 5 of the best-of-seven Smythe Division semifinal is set for tonight at the Olympic Saddledome in Calgary.

Calgary lost to the Jets in Winnipeg on Sunday, 4-3, and trails the series, 3-1.

Quebec at Hartford: The Whalers won the first two games of the series in Hartford, extending their winning streak over Quebec in the playoffs to five games--including a three-game sweep last year.

Quebec, which finished fourth in the Adams Division after winning it a year ago, has won both games in Le Colisee--thanks to Michel Goulet, who had five goals in the two games.

Tonight, the series shifts to Hartford, but Goulet thinks the Nordiques will keep the advantage.

“The Whalers were thinking Stanley Cup before the series, but they’ll have to beat us first,” Goulet said.

New York Islanders at Washington: The Capitals, who once lost to the Islanders three straight playoff years, tonight can oust their old tormentors for the second consecutive year.

The Capitals lead the Patrick Division semifinal series, 3-1, with Game 5 scheduled for the Capital Centre in Landover, Md.

Rookie goaltender Bob Mason and veteran scorer Mike Gartner were the keys to Washington’s 4-1 victory in Game 4 that gave the Capitals the 3-1 edge.

Gartner, who scored two goals, was in typical, opportunistic form, but the game was won by the unyielding defensive game that has become the trademark of the Capitals.

Toronto at St. Louis: The Blues have the chance to get back on top in the Norris Division series if they can beat the Maple Leafs tonight at St. Louis.

In the teams’ last meeting, a 2-1 Toronto victory Sunday that tied the series at 2-2, St. Louis did not play its usual game, according to Coach Jacques Martin.

“It really isn’t characteristic of the way the series has gone. We took too many penalties and that hasn’t been our style,” Martin said. “We couldn’t get anything started. We spent all our time killing penalties.”