NHL : Verbeek’s Goal Beats Rangers

Pat Verbeek’s goal late in the third period capped a three-goal comeback by the Hartford Whalers, who defeated the New York Rangers, 5-4, at New York on Monday night.

The Rangers trail the fourth-place New York Islanders by one point and the third-place New Jersey Devils by three points in the race for playoff berths in the Patrick Division.

Mario Gosselin made 27 saves to preserve the victory for Hartford. But Gosselin nearly let the victory slip away when Mike Gartner’s 80-foot shot trickled behind him at the end of the game. Gosselin fell on the puck with less than a second to play.