NHL ROUNDUP : Vanbiesbrouck Remains Dominant for Rangers, 2-1

The New York Rangers got another strong performance from their defense and goaltender John Vanbiesbrouck as they beat the New Jersey Devils, 2-1, Sunday night in New York in the opening game of their first-round Patrick Division playoff series.

Darren Turcotte and Mike Gartner each scored a goal for the Rangers, who are meeting the Devils for the first time in the playoffs.

Vanbiesbrouck, the NHL’s hottest goaltender at the end of the regular season with a nine-game unbeaten streak (8-0-1), made 26 saves and was at his best during the second period with the Rangers clinging to a 1-0 lead.

Vanbiesbrouck made two saves on shots in front of the net by Tom Chorske and Laurie Boschman. Later Vanbiesbrouck blunted a shot by Randy McKay, then swept it away as it trickled toward the goal line.

Washington 3, Pittsburgh 1--Don Beaupre stopped 32 shots and Peter Bondra scored twice at Ladover, Md., to help the Capitals beat the defending Stanley Cup champions in the opening game of their Patrick Division series.

The Penguins played without Mario Lemieux, who has a bruised right shoulder. Lemieux had an NHL-high 131 points this season despite sitting out 16 games because of injuries.

Bondra’s first goal gave Washington a 1-0 lead, and John Druce made the score 2-1 at 13:42 of the second period. Bondra converted a pass from Al Iafrate with 2:08 to play.

Montreal 2, Hartford 0--Rookie Gilbert Dionne scored both goals and Patrick Roy made 32 saves at Montreal.

Dionne, the Canadiens’ top scorer during the second half of the season with 21 goals, picked up a loose puck behind the net and swept around to tuck it under goaltender Frank Pietrangelo at 16:18 of the opening period. He scored again at 15:55 of the third period after a pass from Denis Savard.

Buffalo 3, Boston 2--The Sabres’ used their league-leading power play for two goals and survived a third-period comeback by the Bruins at Boston.

Petr Svoboda got a short-handed goal during the first period, and Pat LaFontaine and Doug Bodger scored during the second, giving Buffalo a 3-0 lead.