NHL Recap (NY Rangers-New Jersey)
Posted: Sat March 7, 1998 at 7:18 p.m. EST
NEW JERSEY 6, NY RANGERS 3
Rookie enforcer Krzysztof Oliwa
scored his first NHL goal midway through the third period to snap a tie and
the New Jersey Devils
extended their unbeaten streak to 10 games with a 6-3 win over the New York Rangers.
Sergei
Brylin's shot from the left side deflected off Oliwa in front of the
net and trickled toward the goal line but Mike Richter covered
the puck with his glove hand before Oliwa swatted it in the net, breaking a
3-3 tie with 9:55 remaining.
"We worked really hard for the one goal," said Oliwa. "The puck
wasn't over the goal line. I just tried to get my stick between
(Richter's) pad and the ice. I couldn't see with the guys laying. It's
tough to tell. Everything moves very quickly out there.
"I was very happy that I finally got a goal. It's been a long time,
so I was finally glad to hear the applause."
New Jersey, which leads the Eastern Conference, improved to 8-0-2 in
its last 10 games and moved 14 points ahead of second-place Philadelphia in
the Atlantic Division. The Devils also are 5-0-3 in their last eight games
against the Rangers, including a 4-0-1 mark this season. They improved to
19-3-2 against divisional foes this season.
"It's one of those games that almost everyone is waiting for because
you know it will be a sellout," added Oliwa on the rivalry. "Everyone was
ready to play and works extra hard the day before to get ready."
"We played real well and getting a big win against a big rival feels
really good," added New Jersey goalie Martin Brodeur.
Five Devils each had a goal and an assist, including Bobby Holik, who
scored his team-best 27th goal 68 seconds after Oliwa's to give New Jersey
a 5-3 cushion. Devils forward Dave Andreychuk
assisted on the final two goals to reach 1,100 career points.
New York's Wayne Gretzky
scored on the power play, tying the game 3-3 with 4:31 left in the second
period. Gretzky slid the puck from the goal line off New Jersey goalie
Martin Brodeur's skate and into the net for the fifth goal of the period.
The goal was the 1,000th of Gretzky's career. He has 878 goals in the
regular season and 122 in the playoffs.
"It was a battle," said Gretzky. "We knew it was going to be tough.
Obviously the fourth goal was a big goal. It seemed to break our back.
"I think both teams were trying to be patient (before the tie-breaking
goal). It was such a physical two periods. We were very conscious of the
fourth goal and how important it was. Unfortunately, we didn't get it and
they got it."
Jason Arnott
scored New Jersey's third power-play goal of the game at 12:14 of the
second, giving the Devils a 3-2 lead. The Devils were 3-for-5 with the man
advantage.
New York's Brian
Leetch had tied the game with his 15th goal 8:32 into the second,
muscling past a New Jersey defender and sliding the puck under Brodeur, who
stopped only 15 shots.
Forty-six seconds before Leetch's marker, Norris Trophy candidate Scott
Niedermayer scored his 10th goal four seconds into a New Jersey power
play, handing the Devils a 2-1 lead. Steve Thomas opened
the scoring with a goal six seconds into a power play at 6:05 of the first
period.
The Devils played without star center Doug Gilmour, who
underwent right knee surgery before the game and will be out a week to 10
days. Gilmour is second on the team with 51 points, including a club-best
38 assists.
Pesky forward P.J.
Stock scored his second career goal for the Rangers, who remain four
points behind Ottawa for the eighth and final playoff spot in the East.
New York is 1-8-1 in its last 10 trips to New Jersey.
"For two periods we played well," said New York coach John Muckler,
who coached his first game against the Devils behind the Rangers bench.
"It was probably the worst period (third) we had in five games. They got
the momentum (after the go-ahead goal) and they went at us strong."
© 1998 Sportsticker Enterprises, LP
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