NHL Roundup : Coaching Change Has Rangers Off to a Good Start With 4-2 Victory

After losing a club-record 44 games last season, the New York Rangers knew it was time for a change.

They began by replacing Coach Herb Brooks, who had not accomplished much since leading the United States to its astonishing hockey victory in the 1980 Olympics, with 35-year-old Ted Sator.

A few days before Thursday night’s season opener Sator really shook things up. He began by shipping out two 50-goal scorers, Pierre Larouche and Mike Rogers, and tough defenseman Nick Fotiu. Then, he sent Glen Hanlon, the Rangers’ No. 1 goaltender last season, to the minors.

Apparently, Sator got his point across. With rookie Mike Ridley scoring the decisive goal early in the third period at New York and goaltender John Vanbiesbrouck performing solidly, the Rangers opened with a 4-2 victory over the Washington Capitals. Only two teams in the NHL had better records than the Capitals during the 1984-85 season, so it was an impressive debut for Sator’s team.

Sator was an assistant coach with the Philadelphia Flyers last season and played a part in the team’s meteoric rise to the best record in the league last season. He wouldn’t mind if the Rangers emulated the Flyers.

“We have to be realistic,” Sator told the Associated Press. “Our biggest goal is to get the team back to the .500 mark. Eventually, we want to be better than that.

“I think we want to get down to a ground foundation in terms of being able to play good team defense. I think it’s got to be a commitment by all six guys on the ice.”

The Rangers led in one category last season--most games missed by injured players. Such stalwarts as defenseman and captain Barry Beck, left wing Don Maloney and center Mark Pavelich were out for long periods.

All are healthy this season, although Maloney was suspended for the opener by the league for his part in an exhibition-game brawl between the Rangers and the Flyers.

Pavelich scored the first goal for the Rangers, eight minutes into the game.

The Capitals scored on two power-play goals by Bengt Gustafsson.

Boston 3, Toronto 1--After an outstanding career as a player, including four consecutive Stanley Cups with the New York Islanders, Butch Goring is off to a fast start as a coach.

A hustling center, who began his career with the Kings, watched Charlie Simmer, Ken Linseman and Gord Kluzak get power-play goals in the opener at Boston.

“That was my type of game,” Goring said. “We were a little shaky in the first period, but we forechecked well and cut off the passing lanes. We scored on the power plays and held them when they had the advantage. That’s a hard combination to beat.”

New Jersey 6, Philadelphia 5--The opening night shocker was at Philadelphia. The Flyers jumped in front, 3-0, in the first period, but the Devils battled back.

Winger Paul Gagne scored three goals in the last period, two of them 38 seconds apart, to lead a four-goal uprising that enabled the Devils to win.

The four goals came on just nine shots against Pelle Lindbergh, one of the top goalies in the league.

Edmonton 4, Winnipeg 3--Wayne Gretzky, not surprisingly, scored the first goal of the season at Edmonton and also scored again to lead the two-time Stanley Cup champions to victory.

Glenn Anderson also scored twice for the Oilers, including a tie-breaking score midway through the final period.

Montreal 5, Pittsburgh 3--A crowd of 16,033, the first opening-game sellout ever on a weeknight, attended at Pittsburgh, but it was the same old Penguins the fans saw.

After jumping out to a 2-1 lead five minutes into the game on goals by Mike Bullard and Mario Lemieux, the Penguins faded in the final period.

Mats Naslund scored twice in the third period, and rookie goaltender Patrick Roy made several brilliant saves to gain the victory in his NHL debut.

Hartford 5, Buffalo 4--The Sabres scored three times at Buffalo before the first period was half over, but usually reliable goaltender Tom Barrasso couldn’t hold the lead.

Bob Crawford scored the winning goal with just over a minute remaining to climax the Whalers’ remarkable comeback.

Quebec 6, Chicago 2--Paul Gillis scored two goals, and Anton Stastny added a goal and two assists at Quebec to lead the Nordiques to victory.

Stastny and Gillis scored in the first period as the Nordiques had only four shots on goal. They turned the game into a rout with two more goals in the second period on 13 shots.

Detroit 6, Minnesota 6--Bo Berglund scored his second goal of the game on a penalty shot with 1:16 left at Detroit to give the North Stars a tie.