Lemieux’s Two Goals All Penguins Need

The expansion Minnesota Wild learned a valuable lesson--sometimes, even the best defense isn’t enough to stop Mario Lemieux.

Lemieux, responding to criticism from Minnesota Coach Jacques Lemaire, scored two goals in the third period Wednesday night and the Pittsburgh Penguins overcame their frustration with the Wild’s neutral zone trap to win, 2-1, at Pittsburgh.

The Wild, 4-2 winners Sunday over the Penguins in Minnesota, played conservatively at both ends of the rink, content to let the Penguins spend most of their time and energy trying to fight through the neutral zone.

The system worked for 2 1/2 periods and the Wild, despite being outshot, 30-11, at the time, held a 1-0 lead until Lemieux scored at 7:30 of the third period on an unguarded slap slot from the top of the slot.

Lemieux got the winner, and his 19th goal in 20 comeback games, with 4:35 to play, one-timing Jaromir Jagr’s one-handed sweep pass from behind the net past Manny Fernandez from the far edge of the right circle. The shot apparently deflected off the skate of either Curtis Leschyshyn or Jim Dowd of the Wild.

“That was a key game for us, and it was a matter of just staying patient,” Lemieux said.

Until scoring the two goals, Lemieux was frustrated for most of the two games by the Wild’s defensive style. At one point, he broke his stick as he came off the ice in disgust at failing to convert a scoring chance.

Lemieux was scoreless Sunday, when he was critical of Minnesota’s style by saying it wasn’t what the NHL was trying to sell to fans. It was only the second time he had been shut out since ending his 3 1/2-year retirement in December.

Lemaire responded angrily to Lemieux’s remarks, saying he should have stayed retired if he expected nothing but breakaways and open ice.

San Jose 7, Chicago 0--Scott Thornton made the most of his first game back from injured reserve with two goals and an assist at Chicago.

The victory extended San Jose’s unbeaten streak on the road to a franchise-record nine games.

Florida 4, Phoenix 3--Pavel Bure scored three goals and Greg Adams got the winner against his former team with 5:42 to play at Sunrise, Fla.

Detroit 4, Carolina 3--Sergei Fedorov’s second goal, scored with 2:09 to play in overtime, gave the Red Wings a come-from-behind victory at Detroit.

Philadelphia 3, New York Islanders 1--Mark Recchi and Simon Gagne each had a goal and assist at Uniondale, N.Y., as the Flyers moved within two points of the Atlantic Division lead.

Ottawa 3, New Jersey 2--Martin Havlat and Marian Hossa scored first-period goals to lead the Senators at East Rutherford, N.J., in a showdown for the top spot in the Eastern Conference.

Columbus 2, Toronto 2--Tyler Wright scored in the third period to give the Blue Jackets a tie at Toronto.

Washington 4, Vancouver 3--Adam Oates scored at 4:19 of overtime at Vancouver, Canada.

Around the League

The San Jose Sharks will present new evidence to NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman on Friday in their attempt to reduce Owen Nolan’s 11-game suspension. Team President Greg Jamison said the Sharks’ appeal will focus on the fact that forward Grant Marshall of the Dallas Stars sat out only one game after being hit by Nolan on Feb. 1, while Nolan isn’t eligible to return until March 1. . . . All-Star goalie Dominik Hasek is not on the trading block, Buffalo Sabre General Manager Darcy Regier said. “We have no intention of trading Dominik Hasek,” Regier said, dousing growing speculation that the team may have to deal the goalie, who could make as much as $9 million next season.