Rangers Remain in Playoff Picture

Wayne Gretzky had four assists and Alexei Kovalev scored twice and had two assists Monday night, leading the New York Rangers to a 5-4 victory at home over the Ottawa Senators that kept their fading playoff hopes alive.

The four-point game was the 218th in Gretzky’s career. Niklas Sundstrom, with a goal and three assists, also had a four-point game as the Rangers moved within five points of the Senators for the final playoff berth in the Eastern Conference.

Pat LaFontaine left the game after a center ice collision with teammate Mike Keane. LaFontaine skated off the ice on his own and was taken to a hospital for observation. Last season, LaFontaine was sidelined for months by post concussion syndrome.

Philadelphia 4, Toronto 1--Colin Forbes scored two goals and Ron Hextall barely missed his 24th career shutout at Philadelphia as the Flyers extended their unbeaten streak to five games.

Mike Sillinger had a goal and an assist and Chris Gratton also scored for the Flyers, who ended Toronto’s three-game winning streak.

Mats Sundin scored his team-leading 28th goal for the Maple Leafs, who had won four of their five previous games. The Flyers are still unbeaten in four games (3-0-1) under Coach Roger Neilson, who replaced Wayne Cashman on March 9.

Boston 4, Tampa Bay 3--Dmitri Khristich forced overtime with a shorthanded goal with 1:43 left in the third period and assisted on Steve Heinze’s winning goal at Boston.

The Bruins, on the verge of losing to the NHL’s worst team, improved to 6-2-2 in their last 10 games.

Washington 2, Phoenix 1--The Capitals stifled seven of eight Coyote power plays and got 24 saves from Olaf Kolzig at Washington.

Adam Oates and Peter Bondra each had a goal and an assist, but it was the play of Washington’s penalty-killing units that had the biggest impact on the outing. The Capitals have successfully killed 34 of their last 37 penalties.

Montreal 3, Calgary 3--The Canadiens increased their unbeaten streak to five games (3-0-2), all at home. The Flames, meanwhile, played their seventh consecutive game on the road in 12 nights.