Season Record a Reasonable Goal for Few

Wayne Gretzky’s go-ahead goal in the third period of the New York Rangers’ 3-1 victory Monday over the Islanders was the 1,072nd of his professional career, topping Gordie Howe’s combined total of 869 goals in the NHL and 202 in the World Hockey Assn.

It’s not a recognized NHL record, but certainly a reminder that no current player will probably come close to scoring that many goals in his career.

Gretzky believes his single-season record of 92 goals--set in 1981-82 while playing for the Edmonton Oilers--can be topped by a select few, including Mighty Duck winger Teemu Selanne.

“I really think some of my records will be tough to beat, but there are a couple of guys, if they stay healthy, like Selanne, [Philadelphia’s Eric] Lindros and [Pittsburgh’s Jaromir] Jagr. . . . If things go right they have a shot at 92,” Gretzky told Newsday. “You never know. Everything has to go right. Everything went right for me that year.”

Selanne’s high for goals is 76, the league’s rookie record he set in 1992-93 while playing for the Winnipeg Jets (now the Phoenix Coyotes). Selanne has said Gretzky’s 92-goal feat will not be duplicated until the league’s style of play changes from the defensive game plans currently in vogue.

Selanne needs seven goals in his final nine regular-season games to reach 50 for the third consecutive season.

Except for the lockout-shortened 1994-95 season, there has been at least one 50-goal scorer in the NHL every season since 1970-71.

*

Failing to cover the front of their net was among the many things that angered Coach Craig Hartsburg in the wake of the Ducks’ 7-1 loss Wednesday to the New Jersey Devils.

“They scored three or four goals off rebounds,” Hartsburg said. “They had guys open by the net. We haven’t had that happen to us all year.”

The Ducks gave up three goals in the game’s first 9:03, each from roughly five feet in front of goalie Guy Hebert.

TONIGHT at New York Rangers

4:30 PST, FSW2

* Site--Madison Square Garden.

* Radio--XTRA (690).

* Records--Ducks 33-29-11, Rangers 31-33-10.

* Record vs. Rangers--1-0.

* Update--New York can’t afford any more losses if it hopes to catch the Boston Bruins for the eighth and final playoff berth in the Eastern Conference. Boston leads the Rangers by seven points. The Rangers might be without center Petr Nedved, who strained muscles near his rib cage in the first period of Monday’s game against the Islanders. Nedved has 20 goals and 27 assists. The Ducks, playing without the injured Teemu Selanne, defeated the Rangers, 3-1, in the first meeting Nov. 18 at Anaheim. The Ducks are 3-0-1 in their last four games against the Rangers.