3rd Shutout By Richter Tips Devils

Mike Richter, playing like he did when the Rangers won the Stanley Cup three years ago, stopped 35 shots Thursday night for his third shutout of the playoffs, a 3-0 victory in New York that gave the Rangers a 3-1 series lead over New Jersey.

Wayne Gretzky, playing like he always seems to in big games, scored a goal and overcame a frightening crash into the boards in leading the Rangers within a victory of the Eastern Conference finals.

New Jersey, scuttled by a disallowed tying goal for the third game in a row, will be at home for Game 5 on Sunday, trying to avoid being eliminated by the Rangers for the third time in six seasons. The Devils finished 18 points ahead of the Rangers this season.

Richter, who blanked the Devils 2-0 in Game 2, holds the team record with nine shutouts.

The Devils’ apparent tying goal came less than 4 minutes after the Rangers opened the scoring. Randy McKay came from behind the Rangers’ net and deflected in a shot. A video replay showed he not only was in the crease, but had directed the puck in with his skate - either of which by itself would have negated the goal.

New Jersey had game-tying goals disallowed in Games 2 and 3 when video replays showed a player in the crease.

Niklas Sundstrom, Gretzky’s usual right wing and a key player for the Rangers in the regular season and playoffs, suffered a broken right arm when he was apparently slashed by the Devils’ John MacLean.

Rangers 3, Devils 0

New Jersey 0 0 0 - 0

N.Y. Rangers 1 1 1 - 3

First period-1, New York, Graves 1 (Karpovtsev, Leetch), 5:49 (pp).

Second period-2, New York, Gretzky 6 (Courtnall, Robitaille), 14:36.

Third period-3, New York, Tikkanen 6 (Messier, Leetch), 19:02 (en).

Shots on goal-New Jersey 13-16-6-35. New York 5-16-7-28.Power-play opp.-New Jersey 0 of 3; New York 1 of 76.Goalies-New Jersey, Brodeur 5-4 (27 shots-25 saves). New York, Richter 7-2 (35-35). A-18,200 (18,200).

Finalists named

Mario Lemieux, who has announced his retirement, will be the sentimental favorite to win the Hart Memorial Trophy as the NHL’s most valuable player for the second straight year and fourth overall.

The Pittsburgh Penguins’ star was picked, along with Dominik Hasek and Paul Kariya, as finalists Thursday for the award.

Lemieux accumulated 122 points, including 50 goals, during the regular season. Kariya, of the Anaheim Mighty Ducks, was third in the scoring race with 99 points in 69 games. Hasek led all goaltenders for the third straight year in save percentage with a .930 mark, lifting the Buffalo Sabres to their first division title in 16 years.

Finalists for seven awards were announced. The winners will be honored at a June 19 dinner.

Finalists for the Vezina Trophy as the top goaltender are Martin Brodeur of the New Jersey Devils, Patrick Roy of the Colorado Avalanche and Hasek.

Ted Nolan of the Sabres, Ken Hitchcock of the Stars and Jacques Martin of the Ottawa Senators are finalists for the Jack Adams Award that goes to the top coach.