NHL Roundup : Rangers Send Canadiens to Their Fifth Straight Loss

The New York Rangers, plagued by inconsistency in their playoff drive, capitalized on giveaways for two goals Monday and sent the Montreal Canadiens to a fifth straight loss.

Michel Petit scored in the second period and Don Maloney added an insurance goal in the third period at 8:06 to give the host Rangers a 3-1 victory.

The Rangers have had trouble building momentum in their quest for a playoff spot. They started 1988 with three straight victories, then suffered an 0-6-1 skid. Following a three-game winning streak, they have won just three of seven games.

They are still in last place in the Patrick Division, but moved within three points of fifth-place New Jersey and five points of Pittsburgh for the final playoff spot in the division. Montreal, which has 11 goals in the last 5 games, remained 3 points behind first-place Boston in the Adams Division.

Philadelphia 5, Hartford 4--Dave Brown scored on a rebound 3:35 into overtime at Philadelphia to lift the Flyers to the win and hand Whaler Coach Larry Pleau his first defeat in three games as coach since replacing Jack Evans.

It was the fourth game-winning goal of the season for Brown, who beat goaltender Mike Liut for the victory.

Brown, who has 21 goals in 3 1/2 seasons with the Flyers, is known for his rough tactics, not scoring. Earlier this season, he served a 15-game suspension this season for blatant use of the stick on Tomas Sandstrom of the New York Rangers.

Thirty penalties, worth 100 minutes, were called in the game.