HOCKEY STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS : Capitals Keep Winning With Beaupre in Goal

Don Beaupre began the first round of the playoffs as the backup goaltender for the Washington Capitals.

The man ahead of him, Mike Liut, figured to play every game in the best-of-seven series against the New Jersey Devils.

But after the Devils took a two-games-to-one series lead, Capitals’ Coach Terry Murray decided to give Liut a night off.

Beaupre took charge and the Capitals charged to three consecutive victories to earn the right to play the New York Rangers in the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.

In his third consecutive solid game, Beaupre stopped 32 shots at Landover, Md., Sunday night, and the Capitals outfought New Jersey, 3-2, to win the series, 4-2.

Beaupre gave up just six goals in the three games.

Sunday, he discouraged the Devils early, stopping two breakaways and making several saves in the first period. Then, on a power-play attempt in the second period, he made back-to-back saves from point-blank range.

The Capitals beat goalie Chris Terreri in the last minute of each of the first two periods. Steve Leach put Washington ahead, 1-0, with 11 seconds left in the first period. Then, with 54 seconds remaining in the second, John Druce made it 3-1.

The best-of-seven division final between the Capitals and the Rangers, who beat the New York Islanders in five games, will begin Thursday night at New York. The Rangers, who won the Patrick Division, will have home-ice advantage.

Hartford 3, Boston 2--Kevin Dineen scored at 12:30 of overtime at Hartford and the Whalers, after blowing a 2-0 lead, fought back to tie the series at three games apiece.

The decisive game of the best-of-seven series will be played Tuesday night at Boston. The Bruins are hoping to have their two best players, playmaker Craig Janney and defenseman Ray Bourque, back.

Both missed game six. Janney reinjured a bruised left shoulder in game five, and Bourque suffered a hip injury in the second game and hasn’t played since.

The Whalers’ Scott Young opened the scoring in the first period and made it 2-0 in the second when Ron Francis’ centering pass hit the Bruins’ Dave Poulin’s skate and went in the net.

Poulin cut the lead to a goal halfway through the period, and in the first minute of the last period Randy Burridge tied it.

Montreal 5, Buffalo 2--The Canadiens were the third-place team in the Adams Division, but by beating the Sabres, 4-2, in the opening round, have advanced to the division final.

Claude Lemieux and Russ Courtnall scored before the middle of the final period to put the Canadiens in command.

Courtnall completed the scoring into an empty net in the final minute.

Patrick Roy was a standout in the nets throughout the series for the Canadiens. Sunday, he stopped 22 shots.

Montreal will play the winner of the Boston-Hartford series.