NHL ROUNDUP - Ridley Rebounds to Help Capitals Beat Rangers

Mike Ridley scored two third-period goals in less than four minutes to lift the Washington Capitals to a 7-4 victory over the New York Rangers Friday night at Landover, Md.

The Capitals (2-2) scored three times in the final period to snap a two-game losing streak and run their record to 3-0-2 in their last five games against New York.

The Rangers (3-1) had given up eight goals in their first three games and were seeking to go 4-0 for the first time since 1983, when they opened with five consecutive victories.

Ridley, who broke in with the Rangers four years ago, scored his first goal with 14:23 remaining when a shot by Dave Christian was stopped by New York goalie John Vanbiesbrouck and the rebound fell off his stick five feet in front of the right post. Ridley lifted the puck over Vanbiesbrouck’s glove into the net.

Ridley made it 6-4 with 10:25 left when the rebound of a shot by rookie Rob Murray came to him at the near edge of the left faceoff circle. He backhanded the puck into an open net.

“The first couple of games I was struggling,” Ridley said. “But I came out of it (in Washington’s previous game) in Hartford . . . I feel like I’ve got the weight off my shoulders, getting a couple of goals, getting some rebounds to go in.”

Ridley, who was traded to the Capitals in the middle of his second season, had one point in Washington’s first three games. Last year, he was the Capials’ top scorer, averaging more than one point per game.

Montreal 4, New Jersey 3--Rookie Stephan LeBeau scored his second goal of the game, and the second of his National Hockey League career, with 2:10 left in overtime to give the Canadiens the win at East Rutherford, N.J.

LeBeau’s goal improved the Canadiens’ record to 4-1. The Devils fell to 1-2-1.

Brendan Shanahan scored his first goal of the season at 11:41 of the first period to give the Devils the lead. Viacheslav Fetisov’s shot from the point was partially blocked by Canadien goaltender Brian Hayward and Shanahan slapped it in.

Montreal’s Brent Gilchrist tied the score on a 50-foot shot with nine seconds remaining in the period. Gilchrist’s shot from the top of the right circle hit the heel of Devil goaltender Chris Terreri’s stick and deflected into the net.

The teams traded goals in the second period. Bruce Driver scored on a 50-foot shot from the point which deflected off Hayward’s stick and into the net for a 2-1 Devils lead. LeBeau scored with 19 seconds left in the period.

Buffalo 4, Hartford 1--Pierre Turgeon scored his first two goals of the season and goaltender Daren Puppa made 26 saves to lead the Sabres at Buffalo.

Hartford’s Pat Verbeek opened the scoring at 12:34 of the first period with his third goal.

Turgeon tied the game 2 1/2 minutes later with a power-play goal off an assist from Shawn Anderson. Phil Housley started the scoring play by sending a cross-ice pass to Anderson at the top of the left face-off circle. Anderson found Turgeon in front of the net where he lifted the puck over goaltender Peter Sidorkiewicz to tie the score.

Mike Foligno and Grant Ledyard each scored in the second period to give the Sabres a 3-1 lead.

Turgeon’s second goal, also on a power play, closed the scoring early in the third period.

Boston 3, Edmonton 3--Craig Janney sparked a three-goal rally in the second period that enabled the Bruins to tie at Edmonton.

Janney started the Bruins on their comeback early in the second period with a power-play goal and set up a goal by John Carter before rookie Jarmo Kekalainen scored to pull the Bruins even.

Martin Gelinas, Mark Messier and Peter Eriksson scored for the Oilers before an announced crowd of 16,034.

Gelinas, obtained by Edmonton in the deal with the Kings for Wayne Gretzky, scored his first goal of the season after taking a rink-wide pass from Glenn Anderson.