NHL PLAYOFF ROUNDUP : Penguins Clinch Series by Beating Devils, 5-3

The Pittsburgh Penguins lost only once in 51 days. They weren’t about to lose twice in two days.

Jeff Daniels and Ron Francis scored 21 seconds apart in the third period, and the Penguins, frustrated for 1 1/2 periods by New Jersey’s clutch-and-grab defense, beat the Devils, 5-3, Monday night at Pittsburgh to win the Patrick Division semifinal series in five games.

The two-time defending Stanley Cup champions, whose playoff-record 14-game winning streak ended with Sunday’s 4-1 loss, won their ninth consecutive playoff series over three seasons.

They will play either the New York Islanders or Washington Capitals in the division finals beginning Sunday afternoon at Pittsburgh.

“We went so long without losing, we showed we could lose a game and not fold the tent,” defenseman Larry Murphy said. “There were questions how we would handle losing for the first time in so long, and we answered them. We didn’t want to go back to Jersey for Game 6.”

In winning their 13th consecutive home game, the Penguins--21-1-1 since March 5--bolted to a 2-0 first-period lead, fell behind, 3-2, in the second, then finally solved the Devils’ relentless, desperation defensive pressure.

Mario Lemieux, frustrated for most of two games by the shadowing of Dave Barr and John MacLean, and Rick Tocchet each had a goal and an assist, but the biggest goal was by Daniels, a third-line left winger who scored only five goals in 58 regular-season games.

Dave Tippett’s slap shot from the left circle ricocheted wildly to Daniels near the left hashmark, where he beat Terreri to the glove side inside the far post for his first goal in five playoff games.

Washington 6, New York Islanders 4--The Capitals got a hat trick from Al Iafrate, avoided overtime and staved off elimination at Landover, Md., in their Patrick Division series against the Islanders.

The Islanders, who got four goals from Ray Ferraro, still hold a 3-2 lead and can wrap up the best-of-seven series Wednesday night in New York.

Iafrate’s third goal gave the Capitals a 5-1 lead with 11:11 left, but Ferraro brought the Islanders back. He capped a two-on-one break with 10:06 to go, completed his hat trick with 5:38 left and then flipped in a back-hander with 2:15 remaining after New York had pulled its goalie.

Montreal 5, Quebec 4--Montreal’s only shot in overtime produced a goal by Kirk Muller, lifting the Canadiens over the Nordiques at Quebec and giving Montreal a 3-2 lead in their Adams Division semifinal.

Montreal has a chance to close out the series Wednesday night at Montreal.