Fleury Finally Ignites Offense for Rangers, 3-1

The New York Rangers are beginning to cash in on their investment in free agent Theoren Fleury.

After going without a goal in the first three games, Fleury finally jump-started the offense Friday night when he set up a pair of goals and scored another in a 3-1 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes at New York.

Fleury was all over the ice, feeding crisp cross-ice passes and buzzing around the net.

“It was time to have a big game,” he said. “I felt good in the warmups, my legs were going good. Our line is moving the puck well. All three goals were perfect examples of that.”

Fleury and linemates Petr Nedved and Adam Graves accounted for 13 shots and Nedved assisted on all three goals.

Washington 3, Buffalo 2--Alexei Tezikov scored the winner at Buffalo, N.Y., with a goal similar to the controversial play that decided last season’s Stanley Cup championship.

In the Sabres’ first home game since Brett Hull’s controversial goal in the third overtime of Game 6 last season gave the Dallas Stars the Cup, the winner again came with an attacking player in the crease.

This time the rules allowed him to be there, but Sabre goaltender Dominik Hasek insisted that Capital forward Jaroslav Svejkovsky interfered with him on the power-play goal.

Montreal 4, Calgary 1--Brian Savage scored three goals, Saku Koivu assisting on all three, at Calgary.

Phoenix 3, Chicago 3--Juha Ylonen and Rick Tocchet scored late in the third period at Chicago as the Coyotes rallied without Jeremy Roenick.

Roenick was assessed a match penalty following a bloody fight less than three minutes into the third period. It started when he struck friend and former teammate Tony Amonte across the face with his stick.

Colorado 3, Pittsburgh 3--Patrick Roy stopped 37 shots and the Avalanche withstood a three-goal second period by the Penguins at Pittsburgh.

Around the League

Center Rod Brind’Amour of the Philadelphia Flyers has a second hairline fracture in his left foot and will be sidelined for three to six weeks. . . . The Toronto Maple Leafs signed defenseman Dimitri Yushkevich to a multiyear deal. Then, to make room on their roster, they traded veteran defenseman Sylvain Cote to the Chicago Blackhawks for a second-round pick in the 2001 entry draft and another conditional draft pick. . . . The NHL decided not to suspend New Jersey Devil goaltender Martin Brodeur for a slashing penalty that resulted in his ejection from Thursday’s game against the Pittsburgh Penguins. . . . Montreal Canadiens left wing Shayne Corson will be sidelined for at least a week after being diagnosed with colitis. . . . Right wing Jarome Iginla, who sat out the Calgary Flames’ first two regular-season games in a contract dispute, has signed a three-year deal.