NHL ROUNDUP : Capitals Win, 5-2, Eliminate Whalers as Playoff Hopefuls

Before the first period at Landover, Md., was finished Friday night, Dimitri Khristich had scored two goals, his Washington Capitals had scored a total of four and it was all over for the Hartford Whalers.

The game and the season.

Washington’s 5-2 victory eliminated Hartford from playoff contention.

“We’ve been out of it for a while,” Hartford Coach Paul Holmgren said. “Tonight just made it official.”

The Whalers had not failed to make the playoffs since 1985, but the loss ensured them of no better than a fifth-place finish in the Adams Division.

Khristich went on to complete his second career hat trick.

N.Y. Rangers 8, San Jose 1--Alexei Kovalev scored twice during a 21-second span of the second period and teammate Mike Gartner reached the 40-goal mark for the ninth time for the Rangers at New York.

Darren Turcotte also scored twice and Adam Graves got four assists.

San Jose, which has lost five in a row on the road, is 1-19 in its last 20 road games.