Rangers Win Big Off Ice With Bure

On Monday night, the New York Rangers were one of the rare winners in the NHL, and they didn't even take the ice. <br><br>On a night when half of the six league games ended in ties, the Rangers scored

Tuesday, March 19th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

On Monday night, the New York Rangers were one of the rare winners in the NHL, and they didn't even take the ice.

On a night when half of the six league games ended in ties, the Rangers scored a major victory - they acquired Pavel Bure.

New York got the six-time All-Star forward Monday night in a trade with the Florida Panthers. The Rangers only had to part with a young defenseman, a disappointing older one and some draft picks to get him.

``He's a constant threat,'' Rangers general manager Glen Sather said. ``He's someone who can score any time he gets the puck on his stick. He's an artist. He's a superstar.''

The Rangers received Bure, the league's top goal scorer the past two seasons, and a second-round pick in this year's draft for 19-year-old minor leaguer Filip Novak, 30-year-old veteran Igor Ulanov, first and second-round picks in the 2002 draft and a fourth-rounder next year.

In Monday's games, it was Tampa Bay 3, Philadelphia 3; Montreal 1, Carolina 1; Dallas 2, Chicago 2; Pittsburgh 4, Atlanta 2; Minnesota 4, Calgary 2; and Los Angeles 3, San Jose 2.

A tie in Raleigh, N.C., certainly wasn't a surprise. The last seven Hurricanes games at home have ended just that way.

``I think we're all pretty much sick of it,'' Carolina coach Paul Maurice said of the Hurricanes' NHL record. ``If it's like kissing your sister, we're just going to have to marry the girl because this is getting to be obscene.''

It really wasn't too shocking, either, that the Stars and Blackhawks finished tied in Chicago. It was the third straight draw for both teams.

``We needed two points, but we came back again and I think that's a good sign,'' Stars defenseman Derian Hatcher said. ``For one, we didn't lose, which is always a good thing. We came from behind. We did a lot of good things.''

The Blackhawks are also frustrated with not being able to win.

``We worked hard to get a point,'' Chicago's Steve Sullivan said. ``We need to find a way to keep working and get another point.''

Bure will make his debut with the Rangers on Tuesday night when the team plays host to Vancouver. New York, which hasn't reached the postseason since 1997, trails Montreal by two points for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

``This guy is a world-class player,'' Sather said. ``He's going to make our team go.''

The ``Russian Rocket'' led the NHL in goals each of the last two seasons, but since being traded to Florida from Vancouver in 1999, he has not won a playoff game with the Panthers.

``Pavel is a wonderful talent,'' Panthers GM Chuck Fletcher said. ``He entertained all of us. But clearly Pavel by himself couldn't make us win.''

Canadiens 1, Hurricanes 1

Sami Kapanen scored with 10.4 seconds left in regulation, helping Carolina tie again at home.

Kapanen's goal was awarded after the third period expired. Before the teams left the ice, referees reviewed the play and said that a goal was scored.

Richard Zednik scored for the Canadiens, who increased their hold on eighth place in the Eastern Conference to two points over the Rangers.

Blackhawks 2, Stars 2

Derian Hatcher scored from just inside the blue line with 5:43 left in regulation as Dallas tied Chicago.

Joe Nieuwendyk also scored for Dallas, which extended its unbeaten streak to four (1-0-3).

Alex Zhamnov and Jaroslav Spacek scored for the Blackhawks, whose winless streak reached five (0-2-3).

Tony Amonte added two assists for Chicago, which has won just twice in 10 games (2-4-3-1).

Flyers 3, Lightning 3

Sheldon Keefe scored with 1:36 left in the third period to complete Tampa Bay's three-goal comeback.

The Lightning extend their season-high unbeaten streak to five games (3-0-2).

Jassen Cullimore and Nikita Alexeev also scored for the Lightning. Dieter Kochan, making his first start of the season, made 38 saves.

Donald Brashear scored two goals, and Eric Desjardins added another for the host Flyers, who have not won in a season-high five games (0-3-2).

Penguins 4, Thrashers 2

Milan Kraft scored just 1:14 into the third period, and visiting Pittsburgh snapped a three-game losing streak.

Shean Donovan, claimed off waivers from Atlanta on Friday, scored his first goal for the Penguins. Randy Robitaille also scored, and Alexei Kovalev added three assists. Jan Hrdina added an empty-net goal in the final minute as Pittsburgh beat Atlanta for the fourth time this season.

J.P. Vigier scored for the third straight game for Atlanta, which fell to 1-7-1 in its past nine games.

Wild 4, Flames 2

Richard Park scored two goals to lead Minnesota over Calgary.

Wild goalie Dwayne Roloson finished with 23 saves against his former team.

Stacy Roest scored the Wild's 11th short-handed goal of the season, and Antti Laaksonen added an empty-net goal for Minnesota.

Derek Morris and Dean McAmmond scored for Calgary, which finished its nine-game road trip 2-5-2.

Kings 3, Sharks 2

Adam Deadmarsh scored a power-play goal with 5:44 left as Los Angeles beat San Jose to climb within two points of the Sharks atop the Pacific Division.

Ken Belanger scored his first two goals of the season for the Kings, who blew a two-goal lead in the third period, but got a big break when Sharks captain Owen Nolan drew a four-minute penalty for high-sticking Belanger with 6:22 to play.

The visiting Kings won their fourth straight game.

Marco Sturm and Scott Thornton scored in the third period for the Sharks.