NHL : Rally Gets Rangers Past Capitals, 5-3

Ray Sheppard’s tiebreaking power-play goal at 4:45 of the third period keyed a four-goal rally as the New York Rangers overtook the Washington Capitals, 5-3, on Monday night.

The Rangers trailed, 3-1, before rallying to tie the score on goals by Kelly Kisio and Bernie Nicholls late in the second period.

Sheppard put the Rangers ahead to stay with his 14th goal of the season and John Ogrodnick scored his second of the night just more than 10 minutes later.

With the Capitals a man short because of an interference penalty to Dale Hunter, Sheppard scored on a backhander from the low slot. The puck hit the skates of goaltender Mike Liut and squirted over the goal line to give the Patrick Division-leading Rangers their third consecutive victory and a four-point lead over Philadelphia.

Ogrodnick finished off a two-on-one break with Brian Mullen at 15:16.

It was the Rangers’ first victory in six games against a divisional opponent. The Rangers beat the Capitals for the third time in four meetings and outshot them, 31-29, after being outshot, 115-61, in their first three games against Washington.

Dino Ciccarelli scored from the right point at 9:10 of the first period to give the Capitals a 1-0 lead before Ogrodnick tied it by knocking in a rebound at 15:59.

Calle Johansson gave the Capitals a 2-1 lead by beating goaltender Mike Richter from the lower left circle at 19:25 off a perfectly designed power play setup. Kelly Miller put Washington up, 3-1, when he tipped a shot from the right point by Bob Rouse.