NHL PLAYOFFS : Lindros Is Back; Flyers Win

The Philadelphia Flyers were good enough without Eric Lindros to take a 2-1 series lead over the Buffalo Sabres.

With him Friday night, they were even better. Although rusty after missing four games because of an eye injury, he had two assists in a 4-2 victory at Buffalo that left the Flyers one victory away from advancing into the Eastern Conference semifinals.

It was his first playoff game.

“It felt good,” Lindros said. “You’re so excited and trying to keep your cool at the same time.”

Rod Brind’Amour, Brent Fedyk, Eric Dejardins and John LeClair scored for the Flyers, who led, 4-0, after two periods.

Lindros assisted on the Dejardins and LeClair goals, knocking Buffalo defenseman Alexei Zhitnik off the puck and making a perfect pass in front of the net on LeClair’s.

New Jersey 1, Boston 0--Martin Brodeur turned in his third shutout of the series, and it was needed because Randy McKay’s shot from in front of the net with 8:51 played in overtime at East Rutherford, N.J., scored the game’s only goal.

Brodeur stopped 37 shots as the Devils took a 3-1 lead in the series.

New York 3, Quebec 2--Steve Larmer scored at 8:09 of overtime in New York for the Rangers, who moved within one game of clinching the series.

Larmer scored the game-winner after carrying the puck into the Quebec zone. He worked a give-and-go with Petr Nedved, who left a drop pass for him in front of the goal.

Washington 6, Pittsburgh 2--Michal Pivonka had a goal and three assists, and Jim Carey stopped 20 shots at Landover, Md., for the Capitals, who took a 3-1 lead in the series.

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Notes

An offer from a Minneapolis group headed by businessman Richard Burke was accepted in principle Friday by the owners of the Winnipeg Jets. But a local group believed to involve CanWest-Global TV head Izzy Asper was given until noon Thursday to come up with a deal to keep the team in Winnipeg. . . . New Jersey wing Mike Peluso was fined $1,000 for throwing an elbow at Boston center Jozef Stumpel Wednesday.