Rangers’ Dvorak Breaks Away for a Big Night

Radek Dvorak scored a career-high three goals, the last two on breakaways, as the New York Rangers defeated the Nashville Predators, 5-1, Monday night at New York.

Playing with fellow Czechs Petr Nedved and Jan Hlavac since being acquired from Florida in a Dec. 30 trade, Dvorak has 13 points--including five goals and five assists in the last 10 games.

The line had seven points against Nashsville, with Hlavac assisting on three goals and Nedved also getting an assist.

Mike Richter, the Rangers’ lone representative in this weekend’s All-Star game, made 29 saves.

Phoenix 5, Detroit 3--Teppo Numminen scored midway through the third period as the Coyotes extended their home winning streak to five games.

The Coyotes ended the Red Wings’ five-game unbeaten and four-game winning streaks and won the series for the second consecutive season. It was Phoenix’s third victory in a row this season over Detroit.

Pittsburgh 2, Atlanta 1--Jaromir Jagr scored the tying goal with 8:42 left in the third period, then set up Robert Lang for the game-winner in overtime as the Penguins defeated the Thrashers at Atlanta.

With the Penguins on a power play, Jagr skated out of the right corner and fed a pass to Lang parked wide open in front of the net. He buried the shot with 32 seconds remaining in the extra period, giving Pittsburgh its first overtime victory this season.

Tom Barrasso stopped 27 shots for his 350th career victory, allowing only Dean Sylvester’s power-play goal midway through the first period.

Dallas 2, Edmonton 1--Guy Carbonneau scored with 6:44 left and Ed Belfour made 20 saves as the Stars defeated the Oilers at Dallas.

Around the League

New Jersey Devil Coach Robbie Ftorek was suspended for one game and fined $10,000 by the NHL for throwing part of the team’s bench onto the ice in Detroit. He threw the bench during the second period of New Jersey’s 3-1 loss to the Red Wings on Saturday, upset that referee Stephen Walkom failed to stop play while Devil forward Jay Pandolfo lay on the ice with facial cuts. . . . Trent McCleary, the Montreal Canadien player who suffered life-threatening injuries in a weekend game, underwent surgery to a repair a complex fracture of the larynx. The four-hour procedure was his second surgery in less than 48 hours and he remains on a respirator in the surgical intensive-care ward at Montreal General Hospital. McCleary probably will be taken off the respirator today and released from the hospital next week. . . . The Senators will stay in Ottawa if fans are willing to pay. The team plans to increase the cost of season tickets 17%. Ottawa ticket prices range from $13 to $86. A 17% hike would add $6 to the average. . . . Carolina Hurricane owner Peter Karmanos Jr., 56, had double coronary bypass surgery Sunday.