Four the Magic Number as Rangers Rally to Win

It was their fourth consecutive road game, their fourth consecutive victory. So, appropriately, the New York Rangers got most of their scoring from . . . their fourth line.

Mike Knuble scored twice in the third period and the Rangers won their seventh game in a row, rallying twice from two-goal deficits to beat the Pittsburgh Penguins, 4-3, Tuesday night at Pittsburgh.

“This is just tremendous,” Ranger defenseman Mathieu Schneider said. “I haven’t been on a team that won seven in a row in years. It’s a great feeling. It doesn’t happen very often in this league.”

The Rangers were 1-17-3 when trailing after two periods until Knuble tied it with his eighth goal at 8:48, then won it by grabbing a loose puck near the left-wing boards and lifting it over Tom Barrasso at 15:37.

The winning streak is the Rangers’ longest since the 1993-94 season.

The Rangers (21-20-7) have won eight of nine to move over .500 for the first time since Oct. 17. The Penguins (19-24-4) are 1-6-1 in their last eight games and wouldn’t make the playoffs if they started now. They trail the Rangers by five points in the Eastern Conference standings.

Colorado 4, San Jose 3--Chris Drury scored the go-ahead goal with 13:57 remaining and then assisted on Milan Hejduk’s power-play goal as the Avalanche won at San Jose.

Colorado goaltender Patrick Roy, who registered his 47th career shutout in his last game against the Sharks, had 25 saves to remain unbeaten in his last nine starts (6-0-3).

Buffalo 2, Tampa Bay 1--Rookie goaltender Martin Biron made 21 saves and Miroslav Satan and Michael Peca scored second-period goals to lead the Sabres over the Lightning at Buffalo, N.Y.

Biron may surrender his top spot soon, as the injured Dominik Hasek will practice with the Sabres for a limited time today. It will be his first participation in a team practice since suffering a groin injury Oct. 29.

Edmonton 5, Vancouver 4--Ethan Moreau scored with a minute left in overtime to lift the Oilers over the Canucks at Vancouver, Canada.

The Oilers won their first overtime game in a league-high 21 tries this season. The Oilers are now 1-7-13 in overtime games this season.

Pat Falloon forced the overtime by scoring with 1:20 left in regulation.

NHL Notes

The Pittsburgh Penguins still can’t quite believe the news about their former star, New York Ranger forward and one-time King Kevin Stevens, who was arrested early Sunday in suburban St. Louis on felony drug charges. A prostitute who was with Stevens told police that the player purchased $500 worth of crack cocaine before his arrest. “It’s sad, it really is,” Penguin forward Rob Brown said before the game with the Rangers. “I hope it’s a wake-up call and he gets the help he needs. Maybe this will turn his life around. He’s got a wonderful family.” Stevens has two children, and his wife is pregnant. The Penguins apparently were interested in reacquiring Stevens from the Rangers just before Stevens’ arrest. . . . The East Coast snow storm forced postponement of the Phoenix-Carolina game at Raleigh, N.C.