Richter Reaches Ranger Peak

After a long wait, Mike Richter caught and passed Ed Giacomin in sudden fashion.

Richter, with 267 career victories, became the winningest goalie in Ranger history when Brian Leetch scored with 26.8 seconds left in overtime, giving New York a 2-1 victory Thursday night over the Toronto Maple Leafs.

“I’m very proud of it and very happy and flattered and humbled to be part of it,” said Richter, who went from Dec. 18 until Jan. 14 without a victory before winning three consecutive starts. “One thing about this record I felt comfortable with is it’s wins and that’s what a goaltender’s job is all about.

“Unfortunately, we didn’t get a lot in the last month or so but we’re starting to put together good hockey and getting the wins.”

Richter made 30 saves, including a stop in front on Mats Sundin on a two-man breakaway with Jonas Hoglund right before Leetch’s goal.

“We were obviously pressed at the other end of the rink,” Ranger Coach Ron Low said. “He gave us a chance to come back and win at the other end 25 seconds later. It’s fantastic.”

Richter was mobbed by his teammates near where Leetch took his winning shot.

“When it happened all I could think about was we won the game and got that point,” Leetch said. “Then I saw him in the pile and I remembered about the record.”

Leetch got a pass from Radek Dvorak and fired a shot that hit both goal posts before getting behind Curtis Joseph. Mike York’s goal 4:06 into the third tied it at 1-1 for the Rangers.

Colorado 7, Vancouver 3--Milan Hejduk scored two goals in 10 seconds during the Avalanche’s three-goal flurry in the second period, and Colorado defeated the Canucks at Denver.

Colorado’s Alex Tanguay had the first five-point game of his career (two goals, three assists).

Carolina 4, Boston 2--Glen Wesley and Josef Vasicek scored in the first 6:37 as the Hurricanes ran their unbeaten streak to nine with a victory over the Bruins at Raleigh, N.C.

The Hurricanes, who have won five in a row and are 7-0-2 during this stretch, are within one game of matching the franchise’s unbeaten record of 10 set in 1982 when the team played in Hartford, Conn.

New Jersey 7, Philadelphia 1--Scott Gomez had a goal and two assists and Martin Brodeur stopped 18 shots as the Devils defeated the Flyers at Philadelphia.

Sergei Brylin scored twice and Alexander Mogilny got his 23rd goal for the Devils, who took a three-point lead over the Flyers.

Ottawa 5, Washington 4--Mike Fisher scored midway through the third period to lift the Senators over the Capitals at Ottawa.

Fisher’s backhander from the left wing trickled through the pads of goaltender Olaf Kolzig at 10:40 of the third period to break a 4-4 tie.

Montreal 3, Tampa Bay 1--Juha Lind got the go-ahead goal with 1:45 left in the third period and Craig Darby scored into an empty net to lead the Canadiens over the Lightning at Montreal.

Montreal won for only the fourth time in 20 home games since opening the season with four consecutive wins at the Molson Centre.

St. Louis 4, Edmonton 1--Pierre Turgeon had two assists in his first game back from a mild concussion as the Blues defeated the Oilers at St. Louis.

Turgeon, who leads the Blues with 48 points, sat out three games after being knocked unconscious by the Ducks’ Tony Hrkac in a fight Jan. 10.