Rangers Lose Richter

If the New York Rangers are going to make a successful run to a playoff spot, they’ll have to do it without goalie Mike Richter.

Richter, the Rangers’ career win leader, was lost for the season Monday when he tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee in the first period of the Rangers’ 4-2 home victory over Chicago.

The win extended the Ranger unbeaten streak to five and brought them within six points of Boston in the race for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

Kirk McLean stopped 21 shots after Richter went down. McLean, who had not played since Jan. 27, earned his fifth victory of the season and first since Nov. 22.

New Jersey 2, Toronto 0--Martin Brodeur made 29 saves at Toronto for his sixth shutout of the season.

The Leafs, reportedly on the verge of acquiring Eric Lindros, are winless in their last six games. Toronto’s board of directors met before the game to discuss a possible trade, but team President Ken Dryden said nothing would be announced Monday night.

Colorado 5, Pittsburgh 1--Peter Forsberg dominated a game filled with many of the NHL’s top scorers, getting two goals and setting up two at Pittsburgh.

Philadelphia 4, Carolina 0--Keith Primeau scored two goals at Philadelphia and Roman Cechmanek recorded his sixth shutout.

Buffalo 2, Ottawa 0--Dominik Hasek stopped 30 shots at Buffalo, N.Y., for his seventh shutout of the season as the Sabres ended the Senators’ four-game win streak.

Florida 3, St. Louis 0--Marcus Nilson, Bret Hedican and Rob Niedermayer each scored at Sunrise, Fla., as the Panthers won their fourth consecutive game. The loss dropped the Blues two points behind Colorado in the Western Conference overall standings.