NHL STANLEY CUP ROUNDUP : Bruins’ Comeback Catches Whalers

The Boston Bruins turned to veteran center Dave Poulin Wednesday night at Hartford when they fell behind, 5-2, in the second period to the Hartford Whalers.

Poulin, who scored 15 goals in 60 games after being obtained from the Philadelphia Flyers, had two goals and an assist in a four-goal outburst in the third period as the Bruins rallied for a 6-5 victory.

The victory evened the best-of-seven series, 2-2.

“Even down three goals, this is a team that will not pack it in,” Poulin said. “What we try to do is chip away at the lead. We took some pretty big chips.”

Dave Christian also had two goals for the Bruins.

After Reggie Lemelin gave up five goals in the first two periods, Andy Moog took over in the Boston net. He stopped all seven Hartford shots.

For the second game in a row, the Bruins were without defenseman Ray Bourque. Bourque, who has a deep bruise in his hip, might return for Friday night’s game at Boston.

“That’s a tough loss for us, but we can regroup,” said Hartford’s Dean Evason, who had two of his team’s goals. “We’ll see what kind of character we have in the next few days.”

New York Rangers 6, New York Islanders 1--The Patrick Division champion Rangers took a 3-1 lead in their first-round series.

Carey Wilson, Randy Moller and John Ogrodnick scored in a 2:32 span midway through the second period at Uniondale, N.Y. The Rangers can move into the second round with a victory at home on Friday night.

The Rangers led, 2-1, and Wilson made it 3-1 when he knocked in a rebound. Only 72 seconds later Moller’s slap shot from inside the blue line hit goalie Glenn Healy in the right shoulder and it trickled into the net for a 4-1 lead.

The Islanders played an excellent game until the Rangers’ three-goal second period.

“We were having problems,” Ranger Coach Roger Neilson said. “Then suddenly, the puck started going into the net and we were in control. It has been a tough series.”

Washington 3, New Jersey 1--John Druce scored a goal to snap a 1-1 tie in the second period at Landover, Md., as the Capitals evened the series, 2-2.

The Devils kept the pressure on until Dino Ciccarelli stole the puck and scored with 2:29 left. It was Ciccarelli’s seventh goal in the series.

After New Jersey won two in a row with Chris Terreri in goal, Coach John Cunniff elected to start Sean Burke, the loser in Game 1.

“We were happy they made the change,” Washington Coach Terry Murray said. “You never change a winning goalie. That’s page one of the coach’s book. If you’re ever in doubt, see page two. (Burke) gave us the last goal tonight with a giveaway and he gave us the winning goal the other night.

“We were pleased to see him in the starting lineup. I just don’t agree with that kind of move.”

This is the first of the four games in the series to be decided by more than one goal.

The Capitals outshot the Devils, 33-24.

Buffalo 4, Montreal 2--The Sabres waited impatiently for Pierre Turgeon, their leading scorer, to break loose.

It finally happened in the fourth game of the series. Turgeon scored twice at Montreal and the Sabres regained home-ice advantage in the series, which is tied, 2-2.

Turgeon’s first goal of the playoffs came with only three seconds left in the second period. It broke a 2-2 tie.

A minute into the final period, Turgeon picked up a loose puck in a scramble in front of the net to make it a two-goal lead.

The Sabres refer to their top gun as “Sneaky Pete,” because of his elusive style.

“I had a few chances, and I guess the puck just bounced for us tonight,” he said. “I never doubted that I would score. I never lost confidence. I was just wondering how long it might take.”

The Canadiens kept the pressure on Daren Puppa, but the Sabres’ goalie stopped all 14 shots in the third period.

In the previous two games, Montreal’s Patrick Roy held the Sabres to a goal in each game.