Panthers Keep Streak Alive

Around the NHL

Florida coach Doug MacLean, a former Detroit assistant, tried to act as if the Panthers’ 4-2 win over the Red Wings on Sunday wasn’t anything special.

“It doesn’t mean a thing,” MacLean said. “Well, maybe a little bit.”

Mark Fitzpatrick made 28 saves and Brian Skrudland scored the winning goal as the Panthers extended their unbeaten streak to six games.

“More than coming in here, it’s two points against a tough team,” said MacLean, fired by Detroit after the 1993-94 season.

Robert Svehla, Radek Dvorak and Tom Fitzgerald also scored for Florida, which increased its season record to 16-3-6 and now leads the NHL in points with 38.

Sergei Fedorov and Nicklas Lidstrom scored for Detroit. Goalie Chris Osgood made 15 saves.

Fitzpatrick, 5-1-2 this season in relief of John Vanbiesbrouck, got his first win since Nov. 9. MacLean decided to rest Vanbiesbrouck for Tuesday’s game at New Jersey.

“Fitzpatrick played very well, and that’s what you have to have night after night,” MacLean said.

Milestones reached in Rangers win

The New York Rangers scored four unanswered goals en route to a 6-2 victory over the Montreal Canadiens in New York’s Madison Square Garden. The win was the first for the Rangers at home since Oct. 27.

It was the third consecutive triumph for the Rangers, tying their best streak of the season. Among the individual achievements:

Wayne Gretzky, the National Hockey League’s all-time leading scorer, had one goal and one assist to reach the 3,001-point mark in his career, regular season and playoffs combined.

Brian Leetch scored one goal and assisted on another to extend his point-scoring streak to 14 games.

Even defenseman Jeff Beukeboom scored a goal, his first of the season and the 28th of his career.

On the ice

Devils forward Steve Thomas scored his 300th career goal in New Jersey’s loss to Colorado Saturday… . Colorado centers Joe Sakic and Peter Forsberg continue to lead the NHL in scoring with 36 points apiece.