Beating the Rangers Is Fall Classic for Weekes

Tampa Bay goalie Kevin Weekes has no trouble getting ready to play the New York Rangers.

Weekes, who has both of the Lightning’s wins this season, made 32 saves in a 4-2 victory over the Rangers on Sunday night at New York. He beat the Rangers four times last season, twice with the New York Islanders and twice with Vancouver.

“This is New York, Madison Square Garden, the biggest stage for sports in the world,” Weekes said. “It doesn’t get any better than this.”

Fredrik Modin recorded his first career hat trick for Tampa Bay, which rebounded after a 7-2 loss to the Devils Saturday night.

Modin capped his hat trick at 13:20 of the third with his seventh goal of the season, lifting a backhander past New York goalie Mike Richter, who was making his season debut after undergoing knee surgery on April 5.

Edmonton 3, Phoenix 3--Georges Laraque scored the game-tying goal at 13:48 of the third period as the Oilers rallied from a three-goal deficit to tie the Coyotes at Edmonton.

Goals in the first period by Keith Tkachuk and Travis Green and a second-period score by Jeremy Roenick gave Phoenix a 3-0 lead. Roenick set up Tkachuk’s goal for the 500th assist of his career.

But Ryan Smyth scored at 11:37 of the second on a power play, cutting the lead to 3-1. Jason Smith scored at 5:40 of the third to make it 3-2 and Laraque tied it just over eight minutes later.

Florida 0, Minnesota 0--At St. Paul, Minn., the Panthers and Wild skated to the first scoreless tie since Detroit and St. Louis did it on April 1 last season.

Minnesota goalie Jamie McLennan stopped 24 shots to keep Florida winless. The expansion Wild spent seven of the third period’s final 11 minutes killing penalties, but were able to keep Florida’s offense at bay for the first shutout in team history.

Detroit 2, Columbus 1--Kirk Maltby scored 2:02 into overtime as the Red Wings kept the Blue Jackets winless at home at Columbus, Ohio.

Around the League

Colorado Avalanche goalie Patrick Roy was arrested early Sunday on investigation of domestic violence charges in Greenwood Village, Colo., days after he set the NHL career record for victories. Roy was released from the Arapahoe County Jail on $750 bail.