| |
RECAP
|
BOX SCORE
DETROIT (AP) -- Martin Lapointe had a simple explanation for the
Detroit Red Wings' biggest offensive outburst of the season.
Lapointe scored a career high three times -- including twice
during a five-goal second period -- leading the Detroit Red Wings
past the New York Rangers 8-2 Sunday.
|  | | The Red Wings enjoy a group hug after one of their eight goals. |
"We just kept firing the puck at the net and it went in,"
Lapointe said. "It looks easy, but some nights the bounces are
going your way. Tonight was one of those days."
Nicklas Lidstrom had a goal and two assists for Detroit, which
is five points behind St. Louis for first place in the Central
Division and the top seed in the Western Conference. The eight
goals were the most scored by the Red Wings and most allowed by the
Rangers this season.
"There was nothing positive out there," said captain Brian
Leetch, who scored for New York. "It was just an embarrassment. We
can't have games like that. There's no use talking about it right
now. We've got a game tomorrow."
The Rangers, who play the Red Wings again Monday at home, have
dropped four straight and are 2-8-1 in 11 games. Faced with the
prospect of missing the playoffs for the third straight year, the
Rangers didn't play with a sense of urgency.
"I don't know if guys quit," said goalie Mike Richter, who
allowed six goals on 33 shots through two periods before being
replaced by Kirk McLean. "I do know we have to be better. It's a
big disappointment, but it's part of sports sometimes. You pick up
the pieces and play hard tomorrow."
New York allowed Detroit to take 43 shots.
"I don't think we caved in," Rangers coach John Muckler said.
"I thought we played very poorly."
Lapointe scored once in the first period before adding the final
two goals of Detroit's second-period outburst.
The last came as a shot by Yan Golubovsky deflected off both of
Lapointe's skates and off Richter before trickling in. The goal was
allowed after referee Paul Stewart asked for a video review.
"I knew that I didn't kick it in," Lapointe said. "When it's
the third goal for your first hat trick, you're pretty anxious to
make sure the goal is good.
"I knew it was good. I'll take it. It doesn't matter how you do
it. You just hope you get one one of these days and it happened
tonight."
Red Wings goalie Chris Osgood had 18 saves.
The Red Wings peppered Richter with 21 shots in the first but
scored only once when Lapointe put in Kirk Maltby's rebound at
3:12.
Leetch scored on a Rangers power play 3:15 later, converting a
pass from Radek Dvorak.
"I'm really disappointed because it was 1-1 after the first
period and then we didn't play smart," Richter said. "The best
way to erase it is play better tomorrow."
Brendan Shanahan started Detroit's second-period barrage with a
blast from the left circle that went through Richter's legs for his
39th goal.
Steve Yzerman scored a power-play goal on a tough angle shot
that knocked off Richter's glove while sailing into the net.
Yzerman assisted on a shorthanded breakaway by Sergei Fedorov only
1:18 later before two more Lapointe goals made it 6-1.
Tomas Holmstrom scored in the third, converting a Shanahan pass,
then screened McLean on Lidstrom's goal.
Adam Graves had a third-period power play goal for the Rangers.
| |
ALSO SEE
NHL Scoreboard
NY Rangers Clubhouse
Detroit Clubhouse
RECAPS
St. Louis 1
Chicago 1
Colorado 2
Dallas 1
Detroit 8
NY Rangers 2
Philadelphia 3
Pittsburgh 1
Carolina 4
NY Islanders 1
Montreal 3
Tampa Bay 1
Los Angeles 4
Atlanta 1
Anaheim 4
Phoenix 3
AUDIO/VIDEO
 The puck bounces off Martin Lapointe's skate and past Mike Richter for a goal.
avi: 959 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
|
