NHL Roundup : Surging Capitals Beat Rangers, Move Into 3rd Place

Mike Gartner and goaltender Pete Peeters have mirrored the Washington Capitals’ season.

Gartner, the offensive leader in the ‘80s, couldn’t buy a goal early in the season, Peeters was so terrible in the nets he was sent to the minors and the Capitals languished in the cellar.

Gartner is hot, Peeters is making all the right moves and the Capitals are moving up in the Patrick Division.

Gartner scored in his sixth consecutive game Sunday at Landover, Md., Peeters extended his winning streak and the Capitals moved into third place with a 7-3 victory over the New York Rangers in a bitter, rough game.

The fifth victory in a row put the Capitals at .500 for the first time since early November and moved them to within one point of the second-place New York Islanders.

It is too late to overtake the front-running Philadelphia Flyers, but the Capitals are serving notice they are ready to challenge for the Stanley Cup.

In his first seven seasons Gartner, a 27-year-old right wing, averaged 40 goals, with a high of 50 in 1984-85. But in the club’s first 44 games this season he had only 10. It was no surprise the Capitals were in last place.

Before he broke his slump, the Capitals won only 15 of the 44 games. It is no coincidence that the Capitals are 13-6-1 since then. In the last 19 games, Gartner has scored 24 goals.

“I had a horrendous first part of the season,” Gartner said. “I just couldn’t put the puck between the pipes. But, when things start rolling, they keep rolling. I just hope it continues.

“My real goal is the Stanley Cup. In recent years we have done well in the regular season and flopped in the playoffs. Maybe, it’s going to be the other way around.”

Gartner’s contribution to the first goal was a bit unusual. While carrying the puck into Ranger territory, Gartner was held by both Tom Laidlaw and former teammate Bob Carpenter. Surprisingly, referee Andy van Hellemond sent both Rangers to the penalty box. Usually, just the first offender is banished. Van Hellemond handed out 30 penalties.

With a two-man advantage, former Ranger Mike Ridley scored the first of his two goals and five minutes later Gartner’s 34th goal gave the Capitals a 2-0 lead.

Peeters, who has won eight in a row after winning only two of his first 11 starts, kept the Rangers under complete control until his teammates built the lead to 7-0 on rookie Michal Pivonka’s second goal of the game with seven minutes remaining. Then Peeters gave up three goals in less than three minutes.

It was late December when the Capitals, who had not been using him, sent Peeters to their Binghamton, N.Y., farm for “conditioning.” He gave up just four goals in four games in the American League. In no time at all, Peeters was back in condition, both physically and mentally.

He hasn’t lost since Jan. 13 and has replaced Bob Mason as No. 1 goalie.

“I worked hard at Binghamton and now it’s paying off,” Peeters said. “I just hope I can stay sharp.”

Defenseman Larry Murphy of the Capitals had an assist for his 66th point, setting a club record for points in a season by a defenseman.

Hartford 5, New Jersey 5--Obviously, the Whalers lack the killer instinct. After scoring five times in 28 minutes against goalie Alain Chevrier to build a 5-1 lead at Hartford, the Whalers went into a shell.

The lowly Devils climaxed a spirited rally by tying the game on defenseman John Driver’s fifth goal of the season with just six seconds left in regulation. Driver came out with the puck in a melee in front of the net to get the tying goal.

The early assault chased Chevrier, but in 15 shots at his replacement, Craig Billington, the Whalers never scored again.

The tie enabled the Whalers to take a four-point lead in the Adams Division. But once again they missed an opportunity to build a big lead in the division. In the last 10 days, they have lost to Chicago and Buffalo, in addition to the tie with the Devils.

“Blowing a 5-1 lead on home ice is inexcusable,” Whaler captain Ron Francis said. “A tie in this case is like a defeat. We don’t seem to be able to take charge of the division.”

Winnipeg 6, Calgary 3--The Jets have declared themselves in the hot battle for the Smythe Division title.

Brian Mullen scored twice and Dale Hawerchuk scored his 43rd goal and assisted on two others at Winnipeg as the Jets regained a tie with the Flames for second place.

Both trail the slumping Edmonton Oilers by five points. The Oilers have lost four in a row and are in danger of not winning the division for the first time since the 1980-81 season.

The Flames beat the Jets Saturday at Calgary, but, after John Tonelli gave them a 1-0 lead on a power play early in this game, they gave up the next five goals.

Vancouver 4, Buffalo 2--With a victory on home ice, the Sabres could have moved to within two points of Quebec in the battle for the final playoff spot in the Adams Division.

But, when Patrik Sundstrom and Barry Pederson scored goals just 12 seconds apart late in the second period, the Canucks were winging in front, 3-0.

The victory enabled the Canucks to move within nine points of the Kings in their bid to win a playoff spot in the Smythe Division.

St. Louis 5, Pittsburgh 5--Greg Paslawski scored with just under two minutes left in regulation at Pittsburgh to give the Blues a tie. There were 73 shots on goal, 40 by the Blues.

Minnesota 5, Philadelphia 4--Dino Ciccarelli’s 45th goal of the season late in the second period at Bloomington, Minn., was the winning goal for the North Stars.

It held up because rookie goalie Kari Takko stopped 40 shots in another superlative game. He gave up the final goal to Dave Poulin with one second left.