NHL ROUNDUP : Messier’s Four Goals Power Rangers Past the Devils, 6-3

Mark Messier’s fourth career four-goal game lifted the New York Rangers to a 6-3 victory over the New Jersey Devils at New York on Sunday in a possible opening-round playoff preview.

The Rangers ruined the debut of the Devils’ goaltender Chad Erickson, who played the entire game and faced 34 shots.

Messier scored his first goal on a power play during the first period, then added two more during the second to get his third hat trick of the season and 16th of his career. He scored his fourth goal during the third period.

Washington 6, Edmonton 2--Dino Ciccarelli continued his scoring surge with two goals at Landover, Md., as the Capitals won for the third time in their last four games.

Ciccarelli, who has five goals in his last three games, tied the score with a power-play goal during the second period.

Pittsburgh 2, Hartford 2--Mario Lemieux scored a shorthanded goal on a breakaway at Hartford as the Penguins got moved into a tie for third place in the Patrick Division.

Winnipeg 5, Vancouver 1--Thomas Steen scored twice and Igor Ulanov added three assists at Winnipeg as the Jets beat the Canucks for the first time this season.

The victory increased Winnipeg’s lead to six points over Calgary in the battle for the final playoff spot in the Smythe Division.

Philadelphia 4, Detroit 3--Steve Duchesne’s power-play goal with 4:12 remaining at Philadelphia let the Flyers win their fifth game in a row.

Philadelphia was on a two-man advantage when Duchesne made a slap shot that beat goaltender Tim Cheveldae.

Buffalo 6, Chicago 2--Dale Hawerchuk had four assists and the Sabres scored three goals during a span of 1:39 of the second period at Chicago.

The Sabres broke the game open with five goals during the second period, all by different players.

Dan Vincelette and Dirk Graham scored for the Blackhawks.