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BOX SCORE
NEW YORK (AP) -- The New York Rangers picked the toughest
opponent in the Eastern Conference to get their first win in nearly
three weeks.
|  | | Rangers defenseman Kevin Hatcher, left, knocks Toronto's Nik Antropov off the puck and away from the New York net. |
Adam Graves' goal with less than 34 seconds left in overtime
Wednesday night gave New York a 3-2 victory over the Toronto Maple
Leafs, snapping the Rangers' seven-game winless streak.
The wide-open contest matching the struggling Rangers against
the conference-leading Maple Leafs, featured numerous odd-man
breaks and was a marked contrast to the trapping defensive matches
normally found in the East.
"A game like that is really an entertaining game," Rangers
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."
Theo 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.
"I'm sure they would like to schedule 82 games against us
because we find a way to release the better play out of them,"
Toronto coach Pat Quinn said.
It was the fifth time in six games -- and 10th in 14 contests --
that the Rangers went into overtime. The Rangers, 0-4-3 with one
regulation tie in their previous seven, had not won since beating
Tampa Bay in overtime Dec. 19.
Mats Sundin pulled Toronto into a 2-2 tie at 5:07 of the third
period. Sundin took a crisp pass from Tie Domi, between Rangers
defenseman Kevin Hatcher's legs, and slipped the puck past Mike
Richter from point blank range for his 17th goal.
Richter made 26 saves and played an outstanding game in earning
his ninth win. Joseph stopped 37 shots and dropped to 20-9-4.
Petr Nedved staked New York to a 1-0 lead at 2:19 of the second.
Radek Dvorak sprung him down the right wing and Nedved beat Joseph low on the stick side with a snap shot from the circle for his eighth goal.
Nedved, skating for the first time on an all Czech line with the newly acquired Dvorak and Jan Hlavac, scored for the first time in 12 games, dating to Nov. 24.
"We create a lot of chances," Nedved said of the new
combination. "I think we use a lot of speed out there and passing
and I thought we played a pretty decent game."
Joseph made a blunder that led to the second New York goal. He
gloved a shot and threw it forward into the slot, where John
MacLean pounced on it and hit the open net for his sixth.
Kevyn Adams answered for the Maple Leafs at 6:21, converting a
wraparound pass from Kris King, for his second goal.
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ALSO SEE
NHL Scoreboard
Toronto Clubhouse
NY Rangers Clubhouse
Pang's Goalie Meter: CuJo still solid
Head to head: Antropov vs. York
RECAPS
NY Rangers 3
Toronto 2
New Jersey 3
Pittsburgh 1
Dallas 3
Nashville 1
Colorado 4
Calgary 0
San Jose 1
Edmonton 1
Tampa Bay 3
Vancouver 3
Florida 5
Anaheim 1
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Adam Graves scores the game-winning goal for the Rangers
avi: 855 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
John Maclean sneaks the puck past CuJo.
avi: 654 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Kevyn Adams beats New York goalie Mike Richter.
avi: 767 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
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