Shanahan Doing It All for the Rangers

The New York Rangers expected Brendan Shanahan to help ease the scoring load for Jaromir Jagr. <br/><br/>He's done that and a lot more so far for New York this season. <br/><br/>Shanahan scored his

Tuesday, October 17th 2006, 9:58 am

By: News On 6

The New York Rangers expected Brendan Shanahan to help ease the scoring load for Jaromir Jagr.

He's done that and a lot more so far for New York this season.

Shanahan scored his NHL-leading seventh goal of the season Monday night, when the Rangers held off the New Jersey Devils 4-2 in New York.

Rangers coach Tom Renney is maximizing what he has in Shanahan, who has 605 NHL goals but is about more than grabbing points.

``My scoring is getting a lot of attention but I really go out and concentrate on playing a complete game,'' Shanahan said. ``I get just as much of a rush out of making defensive plays or killing off a penalty. I just feel very involved.''

In other NHL games Monday night, it was: Carolina 5, Tampa Bay 1; Nashville 2, N.Y. Islanders 1 in a shootout; Chicago 5, Colorado 3; Vancouver 2, Edmonton 1; and Detroit 3, Los Angeles 1.

New York entered having allowed six power-play goals in two games. The Devils sported a man-advantage resume of six goals in 24 chances. There was no reason to think the Rangers would kill off all seven Devils opportunities Monday, score a short-handed goal, and cash in on their only power play.

``It's nice when you appreciate your opponent because they will either bring out the best or the worst in you,'' said Renney, who called the disparity in penalty calls ``brutal.''

``We seem to be able to rise to the occasion against these guys,'' he said.

From Renney, to Shanahan to Henrik Lundqvist, who shined in making 34 saves, the Rangers claimed this was merely a needed win in October and not some measuring stick against the team that swept them in last season's playoffs.

Shanahan, who came to the Rangers after netting 40 goals last season with Detroit, has scored in all but one of New York's six games _ including four power-play tallies. Aaron Ward and Jason Ward also scored in the second period for the Rangers, who snapped a three-game losing streak in which they allowed 16 goals.

Martin Straka's third goal with 3:18 left sealed it. New Jersey rookie Travis Zajac had brought the Devils within 3-2 at 1:37 of the third period.

Scott Gomez also scored for New Jersey, which got 25 saves from Martin Brodeur. Shanahan made the most of the Rangers' only power play, and Jason Ward scored while New York was short-handed. Lundqvist threw his stick into the crowd after being chosen as the game's first star.

Hurricanes 5, Lightning 1

Justin Williams had three goals and an assist, and Cam Ward made 34 saves for defending Stanley Cup champion Carolina, which has won three straight after starting the season 0-3-1.

Williams scored twice during a three-goal second period that put Carolina up 4-0. The right wing completed his first career hat trick with a power-play goal off a rebound 37 seconds into the third period at Tampa. Nikita Alexeev scored late in the third for the Lightning to end Ward's bid for his first career shutout.

Blackhawks 5, Avalanche 3

Martin Lapointe scored two goals, including the winner early in the third, and Nikolai Khabibulin stopped 19 shots.

Lapointe scored from just above the right circle when he slipped a shot past Jose Theodore and into the right side of the net with 14:34 left. Chicago also got goals from Lasse Kukkonen, Radim Vrbata and Patrick Sharp, who scored during a power play with a second remaining in the game after the Avalanche pulled Theodore with 48 seconds left.

Goals by Patrice Brisebois, Joe Sakic and Tyler Arnason helped the Avalanche rally from a 3-0 deficit to tie it early in the third.

Predators 2, Islanders 1, SO

Steve Sullivan scored in regulation and a shootout to help visiting Nashville win its second straight game.

Paul Kariya ended the shootout with a goal after the Islanders chose to shoot first and had misses by Miroslav Satan and Viktor Kozlov. Tomas Vokoun made 26 saves for Nashville.

Mike Sillinger scored in regulation for New York, which got 32 saves from Mike Dunham. He has made three consecutive starts while starter Rick DiPietro recovers from a groin injury.

Red Wings 3, Kings 1

Robert Lang scored twice in the third period and Kris Draper had a short-handed goal in Detroit's first stop of a four-game road trip.

Detroit goalie Chris Osgood stopped 22 shots in his season debut. Dominik Hasek started the first four games.

Kings forward Sean Avery scored in the last minute of the first period and Dan Cloutier made 24 saves for Los Angeles.

Canucks 2, Oilers 1

Sami Salo scored the go-ahead goal in his return to Vancouver's lineup after missing one game with a groin injury.

Taylor Pyatt also scored for the host Canucks and Roberto Luongo made 17 saves to help them make up for a disappointing home opener Friday, a 6-4 loss to San Jose that captain Markus Naslund labeled their worst so far.

Dwayne Roloson made 35 saves and Raffi Torres scored for the Oilers, who play the Canucks again in Edmonton on Tuesday night.