NHL ROUNDUP : Lemieux Struggles in 3-1 Loss

Friday night in New York, Mario Lemieux struggled.

That’s to be expected from someone who has been undergoing radiation treatment for Hodgkin’s disease.

But, Lemieux said, the problem wasn’t the disease. It was his back, which has plagued him for several years.

His Pittsburgh Penguin teammates had their problems, too, losing to the New York Rangers, 3-1.

Lemieux, playing his second game for the Penguins since ending his treatment, was given a 30-second standing ovation when he appeared on the ice late in the first period.

But he saw less than six minutes of action. Lemieux only played on the Penguins’ five power-play shifts and appeared tentative. He managed only one shot on goal.

In the first game back from his illness Tuesday night, Lemieux had a goal and an assist.

“It (his back) felt pretty good during the layoff,” Lemieux said. “Obviously, two months wasn’t enough rest, though.”

Detroit 5, Toronto 1--Steve Yzerman had four assists and Dino Ciccarelli scored twice at Detroit as the Red Wings ended the Maple Leafs’ 10-game unbeaten streak.

Toronto entered the game with a 9-0-1 mark in its last 10, one game short of a 43-year-old team record. Detroit also ended that streak, in November of 1950.

Philadelphia 3, Washington 0--Flyer goalie Tommy Soderstrom stopped 36 shots at Landover, Md., to hand the Capitals their first home shutout since 1987.

Hartford 4, Buffalo 2--Andrew Cassels had a goal and two assists at Hartford as the Whalers ended a two-game losing streak.

New Jersey 1, Chicago 1--Scott Niedermayer scored late in the second period on a play in which Blackhawk goalie Ed Belfour was blocked by a teammate, giving the Devils a tie at East Rutherford, N.J.