Bondra Puts Capitals Back in Contention

Peter Bondra had two goals and an assist to lead Washington to a 3-1 victory over the New Jersey Devils on Friday night at East Rutherford, N.J., moving the Capitals into a tie for the final Eastern Conference playoff spot.

Andrei Nikolishin also scored for the Capitals, who are now tied with Montreal for eighth place with 75 points. Washington has seven games left in the regular season, one fewer than the Canadiens.

Olaf Kolzig made 26 saves as Washington won for the fifth time in six games, capping an eight-game trip with a 5-3 record.

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Chicago 3, Minnesota 1--Backup goalie Steve Passmore won his third consecutive start and Phil Housley and Michael Nylander each scored power-play goals to lead the Blackhawks at St. Paul, Minn.

Passmore, 8-1-1 in his last 10 games, had to make only 15 saves--eight in the final period. The Blackhawks trailed, 1-0, after one but outshot the Wild, 13-1, in the second period to take a 2-1 lead into the third.

Rob Ray of the Buffalo Sabres was suspended by the NHL for hitting Bryce Salvador of the St. Louis Blues in the face with the butt end of his stick. Salvador sustained a concussion Thursday night and the Blues said he will miss up to two weeks. The NHL said Ray was suspended pending a hearing Monday.... Left wing Andrei Nazarov, third in the NHL in penalty minutes, signed a three-year contract with the Phoenix Coyotes.