Canadiens Out-Score Rangers, Gretzky

April 7, 1998 / 11:59 PM EDT / CBS/AP

The Montreal Canadiens are fighting for playoff position and the New York Rangers are fighting for jobs. They were only separated by one goal Tuesday night.

The Canadiens used three second-period goals to post a 3-2 victory over a rookie-filled Rangers team that has already been eliminated from playoff contention.

The Canadiens are in a fierce battle for playoff position in the Eastern Conference. Their victory gave them 83 points to tie for fifth place with Boston, a 4-2 winner at Ottawa.

The Canadiens and Bruins moved within a point of fourth-place Washington. Buffalo was right behind in sixth, two points away. The top four teams in each conference get home-ice advantage in the first round of the playoffs.

Scott Thornton and Patrice Brisebois scored 27 seconds apart in the second period to give Montreal a lead it never relinquished.

Thornton scored his sixth goal of the season on a power play at 10:55 when he lifted his own rebound over Rangers goaltender Mike Richter.

"Benoit Brunet made a great play," said Thornton. "He chipped the puck out. I just banged the first rebound. It came back to my stick and I put it upstairs."

Brisebois followed with his ninth of the season at 11:22 when his point shot deflected off Wayne Gretzky's skate past Richter. Mark Recchi converted his own rebound on a power play at 18:24 for his 32nd goal of the season and a 3-1 Montreal lead.

"Our power play has been moving the puck well," said Vincent Damphousse. "We haven't been scoring but we got lucky tonight, like the way the puck came back to Recchi's stick."

The Rangers were stocked with rookies looking to make an impression for next season.

"Everybody is disappointed about not making the playoffs," said Darren Langdon, who was given the Player's Player award voted on by his peers before the game. "That's how it goes, but we want to end the season on a positive note."

Gretzky put New York ahead 1-0 with a breakaway goal on a power play at 7:34 of the second period. Gretzky scored his 22nd goal when Niklas Sundstrom sprung him behind the Montreal defense with a breakout pass and Gretzky fired a slap shot from the slot over goaltender Jocelyn Thibeau's glove.

Adam Graves brought New York within 3-2 with a backhand shot from close in off a pass from Gretzky at 12:14 for his 21st.

New York's Brian Leetch was scratched for the second consecutive game after complaining of nausea last week. Gretzky wore the captain's "C" in his absence.