Lindros Injured, but Wounded Rangers Win

Eric Lindros got an assist, but the concussion-prone superstar didn’t play the final two periods after a hard hit as the New York Rangers defeated the San Jose Sharks, 5-3, on Friday night at San Jose.

The Rangers began a grueling road trip of six games in nine days with a convincing win over the stumbling Sharks, who are winless in four consecutive. What’s more, New York did it without significant contributions from Lindros, Theo Fleury or Mark Messier.

Lindros, who has had six concussions in his NHL career, didn’t leave the locker room after taking a hard hit in the first. The Rangers insisted his absence was only a precaution, but it was unsettling nonetheless.

Fleury, the Rangers’ leading scorer, got a match penalty in the first period for kneeing San Jose’s Mark Smith. Messier, the Ranger captain, was scratched for the fourth consecutive game with several nagging injuries.

Vladimir Malakhov, Mikael Samuelsson, Radek Dvorak, Manny Malhotra and Sandy McCarthy scored for the Rangers, who took only 17 shots but increased their Atlantic Division lead over Philadelphia to three points.

Adam Graves had a goal and an assist against his former team as the Sharks lost their second home game in three nights after a four-game unbeaten streak.

Matt Bradley got his first goal of the season for the Sharks, and Stephane Matteau also scored.

Despite taking a season-high 43 shots, San Jose struggled offensively. Backup New York goalie Dan Blackburn didn’t make many difficult saves on the way to his second consecutive victory.

The Sharks’ power play was dismal, failing to score on a two-man advantage for 24 seconds, and later coming up empty during five uninterrupted minutes with the extra skater after Fleury’s match penalty. They finally broke an 0-for-22 power-play skid on Matteau’s late goal.

Washington 3, Dallas 2--Ken Klee scored with 2:57 left in overtime at Dallas as the Capitals snapped a four-game winless streak.

Klee took a pass from Jaromir Jagr, skated around defender Brad Lukowich and poked the puck under goalie Ed Belfour for the defenseman’s third goal of the season.

Jagr’s power-play goal with 13:26 left in regulation, his 13th, had given the Capitals a 2-1 lead. Jagr fired a shot into the corner of the goal with seven seconds left on a two-man advantage.

Boston 7, Florida 1--Mike Knuble, Glen Murray and Bill Guerin each scored two goals and Joe Thornton had five assists as the Bruins cruised at Sunrise, Fla.

Boston, facing former coach Mike Keenan for the first time since he joined the Panthers, extended its winning streak to four games.

Phoenix 4, Philadelphia 2--Daniel Briere scored a pair of power-play goals at Phoenix as the Coyotes snapped a three-game losing streak.

For Jeremy Roenick, the Coyotes’ victory spoiled his return to Phoenix. Roenick played five seasons with the Coyotes before signing as a free agent in the off-season with Philadelphia.

Edmonton 3, Minnesota 2--Mike Comrie scored at 15:19 of the third period to lift the Oilers at Edmonton, Canada. Mike Grier and Ethan Moreau also scored for Edmonton, and backup goalie Jussi Markkanen stopped 25 shots.

St. Louis 3, Montreal 0--Fred Brathwaite stopped 24 shots and Doug Weight had two assists at St. Louis to lead the Blues.

The shutout is Brathwaite’s second this season and 13th of his seven-year career. Brathwaite’s other shutout was on Dec. 8 when he stopped 17 shots against the Kings.

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The Phoenix Coyotes acquired defenseman Drake Berehowsky and center Denis Pederson from the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for forwards Todd Warriner, Trevor Letowski, Tyler Bouck and a third-round draft choice in 2003. ... Red Wing backup goalie Manny Legace signed a four-year contract to stay in Detroit through 2005-06. ... Boston Bruin defenseman Kyle McLaren had wrist surgery and is expected to be sidelined 10 to 12 weeks. Doctors repaired a torn ligament in his right wrist.