Ray Ferraro scored an overtime goal for the second straight game, this time in the second OT, as the New York Islanders rallied for a victory against the stunned Washington Capitals 4-3 Saturday night to take a 3-1 lead in the best-of-7 series.
The Islanders have won all three games in overtime, with Ferrero getting an assist on the winning goal in Game 2.Ferrero scored at 5:40 of OT this time, coming in alone in front of the net to beat Rick Tabaracci through the legs.
The Islanders and Capitals, who have a long history of overtime playoff games, were tied 3-3 after regulation after New York came back from an early three-goal deficit on Patrick Flatley's goal at 14:14 of the third period.
The Islanders won Game 2 of this Patrick Division semifinal series 5-4 in double overtime at the Capital Centre, then won Game 3 on Thursday night at the Nassau Coliseum, 4-3, in overtime on Ferraro's goal.
The Islanders, the most successful team in NHL history in playoff overtime games with a 28-7 record, played six of those against Washington.
The most memorable of those took place at the Capital Centre on April 18, 1987, which the Islanders won 3-2 in four overtimes on Pat LaFontaine's goals.
In the seven overtime games with Washington, the Islanders won five.
Sabres 6, Bruins 5
At Buffalo, N.Y., Brad May scored on a brilliant feed from Pat LaFontaine at 4:48 into overtime to cap a four-goal Buffalo comeback that lifted the Sabres to a victory over the Boston Bruins, completing a stunning first-round playoff series sweep.
LaFontaine, tripped to the ice as he carried the puck in the neutral zone, still managed to sweep a pass while laying on his back to the charging May, who put a move around defenseman Ray Bourque, faked Andy Moog to the ice and tucked the puck by the stick side for the winner.
May, mobbed by his teammates as the Memorial Coliseum crowd roared, raised his gloveless hands into the air in celebration.
The shocking four-game sweep in the Adams Division semifinal marked the Sabres' first postseason series win since 1983, and first over Boston in six postseason meetings. And this after Buffalo lost its last seven regular-season games heading into the playoffs.
The Bruins become the first 50-win team in NHL history to be swept in the first round. Boston entered the playoffs red-hot, winning 16 of its last 18 games to capture the Adams Division crown and finish second overall to Pittsburgh with 109 points.
Canadiens 3, Nordiques 2
At Montreal, Benoit Brunet scored 67 seconds into the third period to boost Montreal over Quebec and knot their Adams Division playoff series at two games apiece.
Brunet lifted in a rebound after goaltender Ron Hextall stopped Gilbert Dionne's close-range shot to send the best-of-7 series back to Quebec for Game 5 on Monday night.
Vincent Damphousse and Gary Leeman also scored for Montreal, which lost the first two games at Quebec and won the next two at home. Scott Young and Joe Sakic replied for Quebec, which had won all three of its regular season games at the Forum.