THE SIDELINES : Washington Capitals Rally to Win Final Hockey Game Against Soviets

LENINGRAD, U.S.S.R. — Geoff Courtnall scored three goals to rally the Washington Capitals to a 5-4 victory over a Soviet army team tonight, ending the first visit by NHL teams to the Soviet Union.

Washington and the Calgary Flames won six of eight games in the Soviet Union.

The Capitals fell behind 3-0 in the first period and trailed 4-1 midway through the second period.

But they fought back with two goals late in the second period to trail 4-3 entering the final 20 minutes and scored twice in the final period for the victory, their third in four games on the Soviet tour.

The Stanley Cup champion Flames also won three of their four games on the tour, suffering their only loss Wednesday night in Moscow to the Central Army team.