Kovalev, Rangers Starting to Click

Twenty games into the season, the New York Rangers finally have two consecutive victories after beating the Colorado Avalanche, 4-1, on Sunday at New York.

“We are finally ready to play New York Rangers hockey,” said Alexsei Kovalev, who scored his second goal in two games after going scoreless in the first 18.

Kovalev and his linemates Tim Sweeney and Pat LaFontaine accounted for all of the Ranger goals and combined for 16 shots against Colorado goaltender Patrick Roy.

Sweeney scored twice and LaFontaine had three assists to go with his goal.

The Rangers have lost once in their last six games.

“It was a huge game for us,” said Sweeney. “We put together a 60-minute effort, which is especially encouraging against a good team like Colorado.”

Vancouver 4, Carolina 1--The Canucks played with authority and confidence at Vancouver, giving Mike Keenan his first win as the team’s new coach.

Keenan’s impact on the Canucks has been immediate as the team extended its unbeaten streak to three games, with a win and a tie to show for Keenan’s first two games behind the bench since replacing Tom Renney on Thursday.

Vancouver had not won in 10 consecutive games, a run that cost Renney and general manager Pat Quinn their jobs.

“We have had a tough two weeks but I thought, particularly as the game went on, that we played with authority,” said Keenan.

Alex Mogilny scored twice for Vancouver, giving him 300 goals for his NHL career.

Detroit 3, Chicago 3--Nicklas Lidstrom scored with 8.4 seconds left in regulation, his second goal in the third period, as the Red Wings won at Chicago.

Detroit trailed, 3-1, and had managed only one shot in the first 13 minutes of the third period when Tony Amonte was penalized for hooking Darren McCarty. Lidstrom immediately took advantage on the power play, beating Jeff Hackett from between the circles with 6:42 remaining.

In the waning seconds, with Detroit goaltender Kevin Hodson pulled for an extra attacker, Lidstrom took a slap shot from the point and the puck trickled through Hackett’s pads and into the net.

Philadelphia 3, Tampa Bay 2--Rod Brind’Amour scored two goals in the third period, including the game-winner with one minute left at Philadelphia.

The Lightning lost its ninth consecutive game and had its winless streak extended to 15 (0-14-1). Both are franchise records.

Brind’Amour, who scored the tying goal at 9:49 of the period, lifted the game-winner high over Tampa Bay goaltender Daren Puppa.