MacLellan’s Goal Beats Old Teammates

Brian MacLellan scored two goals, including the game-winner, and rookie goaltender Kari Takko stopped 33 shots to lead the Minnesota North Stars to a 4-3 victory over the New York Rangers in the only NHL game played Monday night.

MacLellan, making his first appearance at Madison Square Garden since he was traded to the North Stars by the Rangers last summer, scored on Minnesota’s first shot of the game, and later scored his team’s fourth goal in the second period.

The North Stars scored two goals on their first four shots. MacLellan scored on a soft backhander from the slot at 3:46, and Dennis Maruk knocked a rebound into a virtually empty net at 11:17 after Ranger goaltender Doug Soetaert came out to block a shot by Kent Nilsson.

Mark Osborne scored the first of his two goals with a 30-foot blast at 14:29 of the first period as New York cut Minnesota’s lead to 2-1 after one period.

Kelly Kisio tied the score with a shot from in front of the net at 1:07 of the second period, but the rest of the game belonged to the North Stars.

Craig Hartsburg scored the tie-breaking goal at 8:52 of the second period, and MacLellan’s 13th goal of the season, a shot from the right face-off circle at 15:46, made it 4-2.

Osborne cut the deficit to 4-3 with his 14th goal of the season, a 35-footer with 8:45 left in the game.