Fri, Feb 13, 2004 page23

• Red Wings sink Sharks

  NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE Detroit got a boost from Steve Yzerman but goalie Curtis Joseph left the game at the end of the first period after suffering a sprained ankle

  • AP
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  Steve Yzerman scored twice, lifting the Detroit Red Wings past the San Jose Sharks 4-2 Wednesday in what could be a costly victory.

  Goaltender Curtis Joseph sprained his right ankle and was replaced by Manny Legace to start the second period. The Sharks' Jonathan Cheechoo tripped and fell into Joseph's legs in the first period, knocking him to the ice.

  

  Tomas Holmstrom, center, of the Detroit Red Wings works to get a shot against Vesa Toskala, second from left, of the San Jose Sharks during the third period at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, Michigan, Wednesday. The Red Wings won the game, 4-2.

  PHOTO: AFP

  "Just twisted my ankle, something you couldn't see coming," said Joseph. "Unfortunately, the guy lost an edge."

  Joseph had surgery on Aug. 19, to remove bone chips from his right ankle.

  It was Detroit's first game after losing Dominik Hasek for the remainder of the season with an injured groin. That made Joseph the Red Wings' unquestioned No. 1 goaltender, but now he could be sidelined again.

  "It's unbelievable," said Joseph. "At least it's something that won't be long term."

  Blue Jackets 3, Kings 2 OT

  In Columbus, Ohio, David Vyborny scored 1:58 into overtime as Columbus snapped Los Angeles' season-best seven-game unbeaten streak.

  Columbus, unbeaten (7-0-1-0) in its last eight games against Los Angeles, also beat the Kings in overtime the last time the teams met in Columbus.

  Los Angeles goaltender Roman Cechmanek waited too long to pass the puck away from behind his net. Vyborny sneaked in and stole it, curled around the left post and flipped in a backhander.

  Rangers 3, Devils 1

  In East Rutherford, New Jersey, Mike Dunham had 28 saves as The New York Rangers earned their first regulation win over New Jersey in almost three years.

  Defensemen Tom Poti and Boris Mironov scored first-period goals and Dan LaCouture scored on a second-period wraparound against Martin Brodeur. It was the Rangers' third regular-season win (3-21-13) over New Jersey since 1997.

  The Rangers' last regulation win was 4-3 here on March 31, 2001.

  New Jersey has only two goals in its last three games, all losses.

  Blackhawks 5, Predators 2

  In Chicago, Steve Sullivan, Alex Zhamnov and Bryan Berard each had a goal and an assist as Chicago downed Nashville.

  Mark Bell and Ryan VandenBussche also scored for the Blackhawks, who chased All-Star goalie Tomas Vokoun midway through the second period.

  Denis Arkhipov and Adam Hall scored for the Predators, who have lost three straight games and allowed 14 goals during that span.

  Chicago goalie Craig Anderson stopped 25 shots.

  Stars 4, Islanders 4

  In Dallas, Bill Guerin scored with 6.2 seconds left in regulation as Dallas beat the New York Islanders to stretch its unbeaten streak to eight games.

  Rookie Trent Hunter gave the Islanders a 4-3 edge with 1:47 remaining on his 20th goal. Hunter scored on a backhand rebound off a shot by Oleg Kvasha, who had a goal and three assists.

  But Guerin poked a loose puck past goaltender Garth Snow with time winding down in regulation for his 23rd of the season. Video review upheld the goal, while the Islanders contended Guerin kicked it in.

  Oilers 5, Thrashers 1

  In Edmonton, Alberta, Shawn Horcoff and Raffi Torres each had a goal and an assist to lead Edmonton over Atlanta, in a game that ended with a wild brawl.
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