Rod Langway, whose leadership and excellence on the ice rarely show up in the lights of the scoreboard, last night scored the biggest goal of his career and perhaps the biggest in the history of the Washington Capitals.

With 34 seconds gone in overtime, Langway scored his first goal in more than a year, lifting a shot past New York goalie Mike Richter to give the Capitals to a 4-3 victory over the Rangers and push the Capitals to within a game of a place they have never ventured.

The 18,130 at Capital Centre saw the Capitals take a three-games-to-one lead in the Patrick Division final series and guarantee themselves the franchise's first game in the month on May. The Capitals can clinch this series and advance to the conference finals for the first time in their history in Game 5 Friday night at Madison Square Garden in New York. The Rangers, who overcame a 3-1 lead to force overtime, must win three in a row to advance — a feat accomplished by only seven teams.

"Of all the great things that Rod Langway has done for this franchise," Capitals Coach Terry Murray said, "this goal certainly ranks up there with anything he's accomplished in the past."

Langway's was only the last of many contributions to one of the franchise's critical games. John Druce continued to sizzle, scoring two goals. Tim Bergland, who like Druce came up from the minors in midseason and stuck, scored the first of three consecutive Capitals goals. Mike Liut was obtained late in the season for exactly what he provided — clutch playoff goaltending.

But for a stretch of time, it looked as if it all might go down the tubes just as it had in 1986. That year, the Capitals led, 2-1, but the Rangers won Game 4 in overtime and took the series, 4-2.

After Druce scored 56 seconds into the third period for a 3-1 lead, the Rangers pulled out the stops. John Ogrodnick scored with 4:03 left to cut the deficit to 3-2. With 1:22 left, the Rangers pulled goaltender Mike Richter for a sixth skater and Bernie Nicholls put in the tying goal with 72 seconds left.

"It was very quiet," Langway said of the Capitals' locker room before overtime. "I was very disappointed that we had let them back in the game."

Kelly Miller and Langway and a few other voices were heard before Murray pitched his case and their cause. "We talked about keeping our composure," Murray said. "It's very easy to start running around and lose your focus."

Said Rangers Coach Roger Neilson: "The longer the overtime went, the more it would be to our advantage. It's so tough to lose that early."

Asked if this goal was the biggest of his career, Langway, who had not scored since Feb. 17, 1989, said, "Yeah, I would say so." Then, with typically self-deprecating humor, he added, "There aren't that many to remember."

In the first period, just after a Capitals penalty expired, Troy Mallette scored with 9:19 left to give the Rangers a 1-0 lead.

The Capitals continued to come up empty against Richter. Geoff Courtnall took a dumb penalty with 10:54 left to give the Rangers their fifth power play.

The least likely combination got the Capitals started. Defenseman Neil Sheehy, after a nifty move at center ice, simply threw the puck into the Rangers zone. But along the way, it hit Rangers defenseman Ron Greschner and bounced to Bergland. He put it between Richter's pads for a 1-1 tie with 6:47 gone in the period. Bergland had just two goals in 32 regular season games and this was his first of the playoffs.

"I needed one," he said.

The Rangers then took two costly penalties. Nicholls took five steps before checking Druce against the boards and was sent off for boarding with 1:55 left. Randy Moller was called for hooking Courtnall as he entered the New York zone. So with 1:02 left in the period, the Capitals had a five-on-three advantage for 1:07 (the time carried over to the next period).

Scott Stevens threw a soft shot at the net. Richter made the save but Druce batted in the rebound as it floated in the air about knee-high. That gave the Capitals a 2-1 lead with 47 seconds left in the second period.

"I shake my head, sure," Druce said of his sudden and continued success. "I guess I'm just going to the net. The puck hit my stick and was going in the net."

When the third period began, the Capitals had lots of momentum and 58 more seconds of the power play from Moller's penalty. Again Druce scored a huge goal with a little play.

Hatcher simply threw the puck toward the goal. Druce deflected the puck between Richter's legs for a 3-1 lead just 56 seconds in.

"A two-goal lead is a very dangerous lead," said Liut, who had relieved injured Don Beaupre in Game 3. "It can vanish in a hurry."

With Mike Ridley in the penalty box, James Patrick fed Ogrodnick in the slot. With Liut trying to shift into position, Ogrodnick snapped a wrist shot behind Liut for his sixth playoff goal, with 4:03 left.

Richter -- who had been replaced by John Vanbiesbrouck with 4:15 left -- returned to the net after Ogrodnick's goal. Richter was pulled with 1:22 to go and the faceoff to the right of Liut. Ridley won the faceoff, but Hatcher misjudged the bounce of the puck. Ogrodnick sent it behind the net to Kelly Kisio. He sent a pass through the crease that evaded Hatcher and Nicholls put it in for a tie with 1:12 left in regulation.

But the Rangers' euphoria lasted only 34 seconds into overtime. Langway had room, walked right in and never was picked up.

"I felt it tip my elbow," Richter said. "I thought it went wide till I heard the roar of the crowd."