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Wednesday, Dec. 8 7:30pm ET
Rangers show a pulse, stop Oilers in OT | |||||
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BOX SCORE
NEW YORK (AP) -- Mike Richter and the New York Rangers are showing some signs of life. Adam Graves scored 3:15 into overtime Wednesday night and Theo Fleury scored his first goal in more than a month to give New York a 2-1 victory over the Edmonton Oilers. Richter made 37 saves, including two key stops in the third period, as the Rangers improved to 3-0-1 in their last four games, their longest unbeaten stretch of the season. It was New York's second straight overtime win after beating Calgary 3-2 Monday. "When you start to win the close games, then everybody starts to believe," Fleury said. "Everybody grabs on to the same rope and gives it a good tug." Kevin Hatcher got the puck in the right faceoff circle and his shot was deflected by Graves past Tommy Salo for his eighth goal of the season. "It was a bit of a broken play and Hatcher and Theo forced the turnover," Graves said. "Hatcher made a good strong play and went to the net. I just tried to go to the net and it found its way in." Richter kept the game tied stopping Doug Weight's breakaway attempt with 1:27 left in the third. Weight blocked Johnsson's shot at the Edmonton blue line and skated the length of the ice alone. "Ricky was the difference tonight for us," Fleury said. "He made some big saves when we had some breakdowns. Then in the end, somehow we managed to win in overtime again." Just minutes before, Richter thwarted Ryan Smyth's attempt at his second goal of the night. Weight made a beautiful pass to Smyth camped out in front of the net, but he couldn't convert. Richter also provided the fight. With 3:18 left, Alexander Selivanov drove to the Rangers net and was upended into Richter in the crease. As Selivanov covered up with an apparent injury, Richter climbed over him and began throwing punches. "When you're in the net trying to save the puck, you're vulnerable," Richter said. "You're not looking and guys bury their head and they try to take you out. "If the rules aren't going to protect you ... I think the goalie should have the leeway to swing back." Several others joined the fracas, which led to three players from each side receiving minor penalties. Oilers coach Kevin Lowe could not believe that Selivanov was punished. "Our guy carries the puck in, gets cross-checked into the goalie and he gets a penalty?" Lowe said. Fleury's sixth goal gave the Rangers a 1-0 lead with 3:18 gone in the second period. Fleury, who had gone 12 games without scoring, took Kim Johnsson's pass from the neutral zone and came in alone to beat Salo between the pads. Fleury, who has been a disappointment so far since signing a big free-agent contract before this season, had not scored a goal since a 4-1 loss at Colorado on Nov. 5. Fleury, who also assisted on the game-winner, has managed only 23 points in 28 games with New York. The Oilers, 0-5-6 in the NHL's new overtime format, tied it 1-1 early in the third. Ryan Smyth, left alone at the right side of the net, beat Richter to the short side for his 12th goal 4:31 into the period. "We've obviously fallen short on four-on-four," Smyth said. "We have to come together as a team." Fleury almost put the Rangers back on top with another breakaway of his own. He streaked into the Edmonton zone with 7:49 left in the third, but Salo made a pad save and held on. "I just fanned on my shot," Fleury said. "I had him beat, I just didn't get it up high enough." Edmonton backup goalie Bill Ranford was expected to get the start to give Salo a rest, but he has been bothered by an ear infection. Salo made the start and has played in 24 of the Oilers' 28 games. The Oilers are 1-11-2 on the road. | ALSO SEE NHL Scoreboard Edmonton Clubhouse NY Rangers Clubhouse RECAPS Ottawa 0 Buffalo 0
NY Rangers 2 AUDIO/VIDEO   Theo Fleury flies in for the goal.avi: 805 k RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1   | |||||