Despite Lindros, It’s Same Old Rangers

A new high-priced cast produced the same results for the New York Rangers.

“That was no way to begin a game,” New York captain Mark Messier said as the Rangers started the season by giving up a goal in the first 28 seconds in a 3-1 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes on Friday night at Raleigh, N.C. “I don’t know if we were ready to play. They sure came out ready to play.”

There were so many positives for the Rangers in the off-season. Eric Lindros and Bryan Berard returned to the NHL after what appeared to be career-ending injuries, and goaltender Mike Richter was back at 100% after major knee surgery.

Then the puck dropped and it appeared to be the same team that missed the playoffs the last four years.

“At times, we just got away from what we wanted to do,” said Lindros, who had just two first-period shots and six hits in 19 minutes of ice time. “We just have to learn from this and hope it doesn’t happen again.”

Sandis Ozolinsh and Darren Langdon scored in the first 2:35 as the faster Hurricanes dominated the Rangers at both ends of the ice. The win was the first for Carolina in five openers since moving to North Carolina from Hartford, Conn.

New York Islanders 3, Tampa Bay 2--Mark Parrish scored two third-period goals, and Michael Peca had a goal and two assists to lead the Islanders at Tampa, Fla.

Chris Osgood, acquired from Detroit in the waiver draft Sept. 28, made 23 saves to improve his career record against Tampa Bay to 10-0.

Dallas 4, Nashville 1--Sergei Zubov scored the Stars’ first goal in their new $420-million home, Brenden Morrow scored twice and Darryl Sydor had three assists.

The Vancouver Canucks signed defenseman Mattias Ohlund to a three-year, $8.25-million contract extension through the 2004-05 season.