| |
RECAP
|
BOX SCORE
ATLANTA (AP) -- Mark Messier is already paying dividends in his
return trip to the New York Rangers.
|  | | Thrashers defenseman Chris Tamer, left, says hello to Mark Messier. |
Messier picked up an assist in his first game with the Rangers
since leaving for the Vancouver Canucks in 1997 and Valeri Kamensky
and Petr Nedved scored power-play goals late in the first period as
New York beat the Atlanta Thrashers 2-1 Saturday night.
"Thank goodness we have him back," Brian Leetch said. "It
seems natural to see him out there."
The 39-year-old Messier was skating toward the top of the slot
during a 5-on-3 advantage when he picked up a loose puck and fed
Kamensky at the bottom of the left circle.
"The power play really boils down to pounding the puck and hard
work," Messier said. "There's no question we have enough skill to
make the power play work."
Kamensky fired the puck to the right of goalie Damian Rhodes for
a 1-0 lead at 18:40 of the first period.
The Rangers were on another power play 56 seconds later when
Nedved punched in a rebound from the top of the crease. Nedved, who
led New York last season with 68 points, punched the puck to
Rhodes' right after the goalie blocked a Kim Johnsson slap shot.
New York goalie Kirk McLean, starting in place of Mike Richter,
who is recovering from offseason knee surgery, made 27 saves.
Atlanta closed to 2-1 at 12:46 of the second when Steve Guolla's
shot from the center of the right circle bounced off McLean's right
pad and between his legs.
The Thrashers, 0-for-6 on the power play, dropped to 1-18-2 in
their last 21 home games. Atlanta had an NHL-worst 39 points as an
expansion team last season.
"We did a lot of great things tonight, but it is still
unacceptable," Thrashers coach Curt Fraser said. "We have been
talking since the first day of camp about discipline, playing
smart, and for two minutes there, we took three penalties. That
puts us in a tough spot."
Led by Rhodes, who stopped 26 shots, the Thrashers killed a
power play that ended with 1:30 remaining. Fraser pulled Rhodes
with 1:02 left, but Atlanta managed only two shots the rest of the
way.
"Tonight he made some good saves and some tough saves,"
Thrashers forward Ray Ferraro said. "And if we're going to win,
we're going to need goaltending like that."
Messier, who spent six years with the Rangers, helped New York
end a nine-game winless streak (0-8-1) that began after a 3-2
victory at Philadelphia on March 18 and ran through the rest of
last season.
"I think it's important to get off to a good start, just
because of the way things have gone for the last few years,"
Messier said. "Confidence and momentum is a big thing, whether
you're a team that's played well for a long time or a team that's
just coming together or an experienced team or a young team."
The past and present Rangers captain returned as a free agent
July 13, one day after the Rangers hired former Edmonton coach Ron
Low and a month after New York hired Glen Sather as general
manager.
"The leaders led, and the fourth line did a great job of doing
some things in the offensive zone, too," Low said. "We're going
to need that. We're going to need energy from those people."
Game notes
Vladimir Malakhov, who was credited with an assist on
Kamensky's goal, left during the second period with a sprained knee
and did not return. ... Atlanta played without starting center
Patrik Stefan, who was sidelined with an injured groin, and
defensemen Gord Murphy, Adam Burt and Rumun Ndur, who are on
injured reserve. ... Messier needs five assists to reach 341 with
the Rangers and pass Steve Vickers for eighth place on the club's
career list. ... New York improved to 29-33-1 on opening night,
including 21-24-8 on the road.
| |
ALSO SEE
NHL Scoreboard
NY Rangers Clubhouse
Atlanta Clubhouse
RECAPS
NY Rangers 2
Atlanta 1
Buffalo 5
Los Angeles 3
Washington 3
Carolina 3
Ottawa 3
Dallas 1
Boston 5
Philadelphia 1
Toronto 2
Montreal 0
Chicago 5
Columbus 3
Colorado 1
Edmonton 1
Phoenix 4
Minnesota 1
Pittsburgh 3
Nashville 1
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Petr Nedved scores his second power-play goal of the game.
avi: 972 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
|
