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  Sunday, Mar. 26 1:00pm ET
Rangers reeling from 8-2 loss to Wings
 
  RECAP | BOX SCORE

DETROIT (AP) -- Martin Lapointe had a simple explanation for the Detroit Red Wings' biggest offensive outburst of the season. Lapointe scored a career high three times -- including twice during a five-goal second period -- leading the Detroit Red Wings past the New York Rangers 8-2 Sunday.

Red Wings
The Red Wings enjoy a group hug after one of their eight goals.

"We just kept firing the puck at the net and it went in," Lapointe said. "It looks easy, but some nights the bounces are going your way. Tonight was one of those days."

Nicklas Lidstrom had a goal and two assists for Detroit, which is five points behind St. Louis for first place in the Central Division and the top seed in the Western Conference. The eight goals were the most scored by the Red Wings and most allowed by the Rangers this season.

"There was nothing positive out there," said captain Brian Leetch, who scored for New York. "It was just an embarrassment. We can't have games like that. There's no use talking about it right now. We've got a game tomorrow."

The Rangers, who play the Red Wings again Monday at home, have dropped four straight and are 2-8-1 in 11 games. Faced with the prospect of missing the playoffs for the third straight year, the Rangers didn't play with a sense of urgency.

"I don't know if guys quit," said goalie Mike Richter, who allowed six goals on 33 shots through two periods before being replaced by Kirk McLean. "I do know we have to be better. It's a big disappointment, but it's part of sports sometimes. You pick up the pieces and play hard tomorrow."

New York allowed Detroit to take 43 shots.

"I don't think we caved in," Rangers coach John Muckler said. "I thought we played very poorly."

Lapointe scored once in the first period before adding the final two goals of Detroit's second-period outburst.

The last came as a shot by Yan Golubovsky deflected off both of Lapointe's skates and off Richter before trickling in. The goal was allowed after referee Paul Stewart asked for a video review.

"I knew that I didn't kick it in," Lapointe said. "When it's the third goal for your first hat trick, you're pretty anxious to make sure the goal is good.

"I knew it was good. I'll take it. It doesn't matter how you do it. You just hope you get one one of these days and it happened tonight."

Red Wings goalie Chris Osgood had 18 saves.

The Red Wings peppered Richter with 21 shots in the first but scored only once when Lapointe put in Kirk Maltby's rebound at 3:12.

Leetch scored on a Rangers power play 3:15 later, converting a pass from Radek Dvorak.

"I'm really disappointed because it was 1-1 after the first period and then we didn't play smart," Richter said. "The best way to erase it is play better tomorrow."

Brendan Shanahan started Detroit's second-period barrage with a blast from the left circle that went through Richter's legs for his 39th goal.

Steve Yzerman scored a power-play goal on a tough angle shot that knocked off Richter's glove while sailing into the net. Yzerman assisted on a shorthanded breakaway by Sergei Fedorov only 1:18 later before two more Lapointe goals made it 6-1.

Tomas Holmstrom scored in the third, converting a Shanahan pass, then screened McLean on Lidstrom's goal.

Adam Graves had a third-period power play goal for the Rangers.
 


ALSO SEE
NHL Scoreboard

NY Rangers Clubhouse

Detroit Clubhouse


RECAPS
St. Louis 1
Chicago 1

Colorado 2
Dallas 1

Detroit 8
NY Rangers 2

Philadelphia 3
Pittsburgh 1

Carolina 4
NY Islanders 1

Montreal 3
Tampa Bay 1

Los Angeles 4
Atlanta 1

Anaheim 4
Phoenix 3

AUDIO/VIDEO
video
 The puck bounces off Martin Lapointe's skate and past Mike Richter for a goal.
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