NHL ROUNDUP : Rangers Power Past Penguins as Gartner Scores a Hat Trick

Mike Gartner scored three power-play goals and the New York Rangers defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins, 5-3, Monday night in a battle of division leaders at New York.

Gartner’s first two goals helped the Rangers gain a 4-0 lead midway through the second period. Gartner also scored a third-period goal that gave him 24 for the season and 607 for his career--three behind Bobby Hull for fifth place on the all-time list.

It was Gartner’s 19th hat trick, fourth with the Rangers and first against the Penguins. It was the first Ranger hat trick since Ed Olczyk scored three against Philadelphia on March 24, 1993.

The Atlantic Division-leading Rangers, 6-1-0 in their last seven games, improved their league-best mark to 33-13-3. The Northeast-leading Penguins, who came into Madison Square Garden with a three-game winning streak, lost for only the second time in the last 11 games (6-2-3).

Chicago 1, Ottawa 0--Ed Belfour stopped 19 shots for his fifth shutout of the season and Eric Weinrich’s goal was enough for a Blackhawk victory at Ottawa.

Belfour faced a furious flurry by the Senators in the final minute after they pulled goalie Craig Billington for an extra attacker.

Boston 4, Quebec 3--Cam Neely scored his 35th and 36th goals as the Bruins extended their unbeaten streak to seven games with a victory over the Nordiques at Boston.