NHL ROUNDUP : Rangers Win First Division Title Since ’42

The New York Rangers were the hottest team in the NHL during the first month of the season, then plunged to the bottom of the Patrick Division in early January.

Tuesday night, the Rangers clinched their first division championship in 48 years with a 7-4 victory over the Quebec Nordiques at Quebec City.

The Rangers, whose last title came in 1941-42 when the NHL was a seven-team league, rallied for five third-period goals in less than 10 minutes against the Nordiques, the league’s worst team.

“At the start of the season, we had just hoped to make the playoffs,” said Ranger Coach Roger Neilson, who got the job less than a month before training camp began in September. “But when we got to Christmas and no one had run away, we knew we’d have a chance.”

Buffalo 6, Detroit 5--Dave Andreychuk scored three times during a five-goal first period at Detroit as the Sabres eliminated the Red Wings from playoff contention.

The Red Wings, two-time defending Norris Division champions, missed the playoffs for the first time since 1985-86 and for the first time in Jacques Demers’ four years as coach.

New Jersey 4, Washington 1--Kirk Muller and Dave Maley scored during a 1:12 span midway through the first period at East Rutherford, N.J., as the Devils prevented the Capitals from clinching a playoff spot and assured themselves of finishing no worse than third in the Patrick Division--their best finish ever.

Calgary 4, New York Islanders 2--Theoren Fleury scored the tiebreaking goal late in the second period at Uniondale, N.Y., as the Flames ended a three-game losing streak and sent the Islanders to the brink of playoff elimination.

The Islanders must win their two remaining games and the Pittsburgh Penguins must lose two for New York to make the playoffs.

Hartford 3, Pittsburgh 3--Yvon Corriveau and Adam Burt scored for the Whalers in the third period at Pittsburgh, extending the Penguins’ winless streak to six games.

Boston 3, St. Louis 0--Reggie Lemelin made 33 saves at St. Louis as the Bruins handed the Blues their sixth consecutive loss.

Edmonton 4, Vancouver 1--Oiler goaltender Bill Ranford tuned up for the playoffs by turning aside 31 shots at Vancouver.