NHL ROUNDUP : Kovalev Leads Rangers’ Rally

Alexei Kovalev’s third goal of the game with 36 seconds left ended a four-goal rally in the final seven minutes and gave the New York Rangers a 6-5 victory over the Boston Bruins Sunday night at New York.

The Rangers were behind, 5-2, before Mike Gartner and Kovalev each scored twice, with Kovalev getting the game-winner.

Doug Weight assisted on all three of Kovalev’s goals as the Russian forward, the Rangers’ No. 1 pick in the 1991 draft, registered his first NHL hat trick.

“It’s my favorite position, ever since I was in youth hockey. I like to be the leader of the team,” Kovalev said through an interpreter.

Gartner’s two goals gave him 558, moving him past ex-Bruin star Johnny Bucyk into eighth place on the all-time list.

Detroit 4, Chicago 0--Tim Cheveldae stopped 32 shots at Chicago for his third shutout of the season.

Jimmy Carson, Steve Chiasson, Sheldon Kennedy and Sergei Fedorov scored goals for the Red Wings, who increased their unbeaten streak to six games.

The Blackhawks, who lost their second game in two nights after going 7-1-0 in their previous eight, had not been shut out at home since Nov. 4, 1990.

Calgary 7, Edmonton 3--Gary Roberts had three goals and Paul Ranheim scored twice at Edmonton as the Smythe Division-leading Flames increased their winning streak to six games.

Pittsburgh 4, Buffalo 2--Mario Lemieux recorded his 98th and 99th points with two assists to lead the Penguins at Buffalo.

The victory was the sixth in seven games for the Penguins, who have a league-leading 55 points.

New Jersey 6, Hartford 2--Janne Ojanen scored a goal and added two assists at East Rutherford, N.J., as the Devils regained fourth place in the Patrick Division.

Toronto 6, St. Louis 3--Doug Gilmour had a goal and two assists and Grant Fuhr stopped Brendan Shanahan on a penalty shot during the second period to lead the Maple Leafs at St. Louis.

Winnipeg 7, Minnesota 4--The Jets, who had scored only once in their previous 37 power plays, converted three of eight at Winnipeg against a North Star team that entered the game with the NHL’s best penalty-killing record.

Vancouver 5, Montreal 2--Pavel Bure scored two goals, including one with 1:11 to play, to lead the Canucks over the Adams Division-leading Canadiens.

Trevor Linden, Greg Adams and Jiri Slegr also scored for the Canucks.

Quebec 6, Ottawa 1--The Nordiques scored five power-play goals at Ottawa to hand the Senators their seventh consecutive defeat.