OT – SUMMARY, P. 71

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WASHINGTON – It is irony that borders on tempting fate. Scott Niedermayer’s NHL-record fourth overtime goal of the season kept alive the chance of the Devils meeting Toronto in the first round of the playoffs.

It was almost as if he wants a rematch with Tie Domi.

“Sure,” Niedermayer said with dubious bravado. “Whoever we get is fine by me.

“It doesn’t matter. No one told me not to score.”

Perhaps striving too hard when the choice is between the 100-point Leafs and maximum 92-point Hurricanes, Niedermayer lifted the Devils to their sixth straight victory with the OT winner in last night’s 4-3 triumph over the Caps here.

Niedermayer’s goal completed the Devils’ season with 95 points, 16 fewer than their team record last season. They finished one point ahead of No. 7 Ottawa and moved a point ahead of the Islanders, who face the Flyers at the Coliseum today.

An Islander victory would send the Devils to Carolina for their second straight first round, and set up an Isles-Leafs series. An Islander tie or loss sends the Devils to Toronto for the third straight year, while the Isles head to Raleigh.

“Do you think the Islanders will want to win?” one Devil wondered. “And will the Flyers send their full team?”

Last year’s first-round matchup against the Hurricanes opened in New Jersey, and the defending Cup champion Devils threatened to sweep after winning the first three. However, clean hits by Scott Stevens that knocked Shane Willis and Ron Francis out of the series seemed to inspire the Hurricanes, who won the next two before falling in six.

The Devils ousted the Leafs in the second round for the second straight season last year, a series that will be remembered for Domi’s Elbow of Infamy that knocked Niedermayer out two weeks with a significant concussion. The Devils won that dramatic series in seven games after being ousted by them in six in 2000.

“It doesn’t matter to where we go. I’ll be welcome either place,” Scott Stevens said.

Last night’s finale swung back and forth, and with the changing lead, so did the Devils’ playoff scenarios. For a while, it looked like they’d face the Flyers. Then it was Carolina for sure. Then Niedermayer left it up to the Isles-Flyers.

Brian Gionta and John Madden put the Devils two-up on rookie goalie Sebastien Charpentier 7:01 into play, with Christian Berglund – called up yesterday – assisting on each.

Then the Caps roared back on John Vanbiesbrouck, scoring three straight. Ulf Dahlen, Sergei Gonchar and Steve Konowalchuk had the Devils looking at Philly. Andreas Salomonsson brought the Devils level 29 seconds into the third, an outcome that would have ensured Carolina.

“I was making some [scenarios] up just to confuse everybody,” Madden said. “To sit down and worry about it before the game is not right.”

Obviously, Niedermayer wasn’t worrying about the ramifications.