NHL ROUNDUP : Rangers, Richter Getting Used to Shutouts

It can’t be this easy.

“Every athlete wants to play on a team that’s on this type of roll,” said New York’s Craig MacTavish after the Rangers won their seventh playoff game in a row, 3-0, over the Washington Capitals in Landover, Md., Thursday night.

“I’m not naive enough to take it for granted,” MacTavish said. “It’s nice while it lasts.”

It has lasted through two series--a sweep of the New York Islanders and a 3-0 lead over the Capitals--in part because of Mike Richter’s goaltending.

New York made it easier for him, scoring power-play goals by Brian Leetch and Mark Messier in the first 14 minutes. Washington challenged him with only 21 shots.

Richter’s three shutouts are one short of matching the NHL record for one playoff year.

“Richter has played very well in all three games in this series,” Capital Coach Jim Schoenfeld said. “Every time they had a breakdown, he was there to make sure it didn’t get in the net. You have to give him a lot of credit, not only for the game tonight but for the Rangers’ success thus far in the playoffs.”

New York has not swept two consecutive series since 1937.

“We’re down three games, but it’s not over,” Washington defenseman Sylvain Cote said. “We’ve just got to win here Saturday and then hope for the best back in New York. We’re not ready to die right now.”

They might not have much choice. The Rangers, vying for their first Stanley Cup since 1940, have outscored their opponents, 36-8, in setting a club record for consecutive playoff victories.

New Jersey 4, Boston 2--The Devils switched goalies and turned around the momentum in their playoff series at Boston that has been dominated by the road team.

Chris Terreri made 25 saves in his first playoff start this season, and Tom Chorske scored twice as the Devils cut the Bruins’ lead to 2-1 in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference series.

The visiting team has won all three games in the series, which continues Saturday night with Game 4 in Boston, where the Bruins have a 2-3 record during the playoffs.

Terreri was not challenged often by the Bruins, but he challenged them. After being checked hard by Brent Hughes behind his net with 11:30 to play, Terreri went after Hughes at the next stoppage of play.

Terreri hit Hughes with his stick, gloves and blocker. He got two roughing penalties and gave up Iafrate’s power-play goal 22 seconds later as the Bruins pulled within 3-2.

Things got ugly, with two fights in the final seconds. New Jersey’s Mike Peluso flicked his stick at a fan during a fight, and other fans doused the New Jersey bench with soda and beer. Boston Coach Brian Sutter tried to go after the Devils’ Bill Guerin after the second fight.