Rangers Get Another Tie

Goals are coming easier these days for Alexei Kovalev. Victories are still tough for the New York Rangers - particularly at home.

For the 13th time in 14 home games this season, the Rangers allowed their opponents to take the early lead. This time, they rallied to tie the Florida Panthers 1-1 Sunday on a first-period goal by the hot-handed Kovalev.

“It would have been nice to win the game, (but) there were a lot of positives,” said Rangers coach Colin Campbell.

One of them was Kovalev, who scored his sixth goal in the last 10 games after going goal-less in the first 18. Another was the fact that the Rangers outshot the Panthers 14-7 in the first period.

“We came out strong and we got going,” said Pat LaFontaine, who assisted on Kovalev’s goal. “The shots just weren’t going in.”

That was mainly because of John Vanbiesbrouck, who put on a goaltending clinic in the first period.

Tom Fitzgerald gave the Panthers a 1-0 lead in the first 2 minutes. But Mike Richter held the Panthers scoreless for the remaining 63:13.

The game featured a strong goaltending matchup between Richter and Vanbiesbrouck, his former Rangers teammmate. Richter made 30 saves, Vanbiesbrouck 26.

The Panthers made their record 1-1-1 since Bryan Murray took over as coach for the fired Doug Maclean last week.

Oilers rip Sharks

Jason Arnott scored two goals and Doug Weight had four assists as the Edmonton Oilers beat the visiting San Jose Sharks 6-1.

The newly created line of Weight, Arnott and Ryan Smyth, who had one goal and two assists, combined for nine points in leading the Oilers to just their fourth win in their last 13 home games.

Arnott’s first goal came just 47 seconds into the game and was his first since the Oilers’ home-opener Oct. 3.

Andrei Kovalenko, another Oiler in a slump, scored his first goal of the season marching past three Sharks defenders and tucking a backhand over goaltender Kelly Hrudey, who was then replaced by Mike Vernon.

The Oilers kept up the assault during a penalty-filled second period, getting goals from Smyth, Dean McAmmond and Arnott. It was Arnott’s 100th career goal.