Lowly Rangers Win for a Change

Lately, you can count on the New York Rangers for two things: going to overtime, and not winning.

Wednesday night, they did go to the extra period for the fifth time in six games--and the 10th time in 14--but this time the Rangers won, surprising the Eastern Conference-leading Toronto Maple Leafs, 3-2, at New York’s Madison Square Garden.

Adam Graves’ goal with less than 34 seconds left in overtime helped snap the Rangers’ seven-game winless streak (0-4-3) that had gone on for nearly three weeks.

The wide-open game, featuring numerous odd-man breaks, was a marked contrast to the trapping defensive matches normally found in the East.

“A game like that is really an entertaining game,” Ranger Coach John Muckler said. “The skill level was good on both sides, sensational saves on both ends, it’s just a shame the game can’t be played like that all the time.”

Theoren Fleury set up the game-winner by skating over the Toronto blue line, moving across the ice and sending a pass to Graves, who one-timed his 14th goal past Curtis Joseph.

San Jose 1, Edmonton 1--Goalie Tommy Salo made 32 saves, preserving a tie for the Oilers, who were outshot, 23-9, by the Sharks over the final 45 minutes at Edmonton.

The Oilers led, 1-0, on a second-period goal by Bill Guerin before Alexander Korolyuk tied it for San Jose at 5:37 in the third. Doug Weight extended his point-scoring streak to five games with a perfect pass that set up Guerin’s goal at 19:12. Weight has three goals and six assists during the streak. Edmonton is undefeated (4-0-3) in its last seven home games.

New Jersey 3, Pittsburgh 1--The Devils’ neutral-zone trap held Jaromir Jagr scoreless in the victory at Pittsburgh, and for the second time in less than a month a goal by Randy McKay ended up the game winner against the Penguins.

McKay put the Devils ahead, 2-1, at 2:32 of the third period, taking Bobby Holik’s short pass and wristing a shot from the top of the right circle between Jean-Sebastien Aubin’s pads. McKay also beat the Penguins, 2-1, on Dec. 7, when Pittsburgh was so ineffective against the Devils’ trap that General Manager Craig Patrick decided to fire coach Kevin Constantine two days later. Jagr, slowed by a sore upper leg that kept him out of practice, was held without a point for the sixth time in 38 games.

Dallas 3, Nashville 1--Mike Keane’s go-ahead goal 43 seconds into the final period helped the host Stars end the Predators’ franchise-best eight-game unbeaten streak. Guy Carbonneau, who assisted on Keane’s goal, scored with four seconds left into an empty net as Dallas earned its fourth victory in a row. Dallas is 12-4-2 in its last 18 games.

Colorado 4, Calgary 0--Adam Deadmarsh scored three goals, Peter Forsberg had three assists and rookie Marc Denis recorded his second career shutout to defeat the Flames at Denver. It was Deadmarsh’s first career hat trick in 380 NHL games.

Tampa Bay 3, Vancouver 3--Pavel Kubina had a goal and an assist as the Lightning ended a seven-game losing streak with the tie at Vancouver.