Wilson Has D.C. Feeling Ducky About Capitals

Does that man who has the Washington Capitals sitting atop the Eastern Conference look familiar?

He should. A year ago, Coach Ron Wilson had the Mighty Ducks sitting pretty as he led them into the postseason for the first time.

In a stunning move, the Ducks then fired Wilson, but he has recovered quite nicely.

Kelly Miller’s scored a shorthanded goal with 2:15 left in the third period to give the Capitals a 3-2 victory over the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday night at Montreal, giving Washington a 7-1 record, its best start ever.

Things haven’t been so good for the Canadiens. The loss kept them winless at home, where they are 0-2-2.

It also kept Montreal winless against the Capitals, who have beaten the Canadiens six consecutive times.

St. Louis 5, New York Rangers 3--The Blues are also 7-1 and also off to their best start.

Joe Murphy scored his first two goals and added an assist at St. Louis, where the Blues tied a club record with their seventh win in a row. Al MacInnis had a goal and two assists.

With 14 points, the Blues are tied with Washington for the best record in the NHL, one point ahead of Detroit.

Saturday night’s attendance of 19,685 was the largest of the season at St. Louis and the first sellout.

Wayne Gretzky recorded his 1,849th career assist for the Rangers. That leaves him one assist from tying Gordie Howe’s total point mark. Two more assists would give Gretzy more assists than the point total of every player in NHL history.

New Jersey 5, Tampa Bay 0--Goalie Mike Dunham made 27 saves in his first start of the season and the Devils got goals from five players at East Rutherford, N.J., to extend the Lightning’s losing streak to four games.

The shutout, the third of Dunham’s career, was especially impressive considering he had played only one period in relief of starter Martin Brodeur all season.

Boston 3, Calgary 0--Goalie Byron Dafoe made 30 saves at Calgary, where the Bruins won their fourth in a row, all on the road.

It was also Boston’s NHL-leading third shutout of the season, all coming on this trip.

Detroit 4, Carolina 2--The victory was Detroit’s eighth in its last nine home games against the Whaler-Hurricane franchise, with the ninth game ending in a tie. Hartford last won in Detroit on November 14, 1989.

Nicklas Lidstrom continued his hot start for the Red Wings with a goal and an assist. He leads Detroit in scoring with four goals and eight assists, including a goal in each of the Red Wings’ last three games.

Dallas 5 Toronto 4--Derian Hatcher and Mike Modano scored third-period goals at Toronto to enable the Stars to stretch their unbeaten streak against Toronto to six games.

Modano, who missed training camp in a bitter salary dispute, also scored a first-period goal. He leads the league with eight goals.