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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
MONTREAL (AP) -- The Montreal Canadiens lost another key player
to an injury on Saturday night, and had another young player step
up for them.
After losing leading scorer Brian Savage to a broken thumb
earlier in the game, the Canadiens got a game-tying goal from
Xavier Delisle midway through the third period to tie the New York
Rangers 2-2.
|  | | Mike Richter dives to make one of his 27 saves for the Rangers on Saturday. |
Savage joins 10 other Montreal players to be sidelined with
injuries.
"It's a shame because it's our biggest players who keep getting
injured," said Delisle, who scored his second NHL goal. "On the
other hand, it gives the younger players a chance to show what they
can do."
The Canadiens have lost 288 man-games to injury this season.
Montreal set an NHL record last season when they lost 536 man-games
to injury.
"I don't think anyone has any words for that," Canadiens
captain Saku Koivu said. "It's just one after another. And it's
players who fill the key roles."
Savage, who scored his team-leading 19th goal just 20 seconds
in, was injured when he fell into the boards after he was
cross-checked by Rangers defenseman Rich Pilon midway through the
first period.
There was no penalty on the play as only two minor penalties --
both against New York, in the second period -- were called.
"I think it went both ways, but in some situations, they could
have called one or two more penalties," Koivu said.
Savage, who played in his 400th NHL game, is expected to miss
eight weeks.
"It's a great opportunity for the young guys to step up and
play a bigger role," Koivu said.
Delisle, who scored his first career goal in Montreal's season
opener in New Jersey on Oct. 6, and Eric Landry were equal to the
task.
With Montreal trailing 2-1 following a pair of first-period
goals by Jan Hlavac, Delisle took a pass from Landry and shot into
a wide open net 10:02 into the third after Rangers goalie Mike
Richter failed to clear the puck behind his own net.
"I was in front and called for the puck, and he put it right on
my stick," Delisle said. "He worked hard and deserves a lot of
the credit for that goal."
New York, undefeated in its last four, failed to win for the
12th straight road game. The Rangers are 0-10-2 on the road since
beating the New York Islanders in overtime on Nov. 22.
"We've obviously been struggling on the road," Petr Nedved said.
"It's too bad they were able to sneak in and get that second goal
and take the point from us."
Following Savage's goal, Hlavac scored two goals 2:59 apart in
the first period to put the Rangers ahead 2-1.
Hlavac tied it when he beat Jose Theodore on a breakaway at
10:59.
Montreal defenseman Sheldon Souray was caught up ice when his
slap shot from just inside the Rangers' blue line failed to get
through, allowing Nedved to send Hlavac off with a breakaway
pass.
Hlavac cut to his right as he came in on Theodore and flipped a
backhander into the net to tie it.
At 13:58, Hlavac's weak wrist shot beat Theodore through the
legs to make it 2-1.
With the game on the line in the third, Theodore redeemed
himself with a big save on Mark Messier with 3:11 left as the
Rangers captain elected to shoot on a 2-on-1 with Valeri Kamensky.
"After we lost Brian, I think we kind of slowed down a little
bit," Theodore said. "But then at the end of the second and in
the third we picked it up and we'll take the tie."
New York, which has just 57 wins in 285 games in Montreal, is
undefeated in its last four at the Molson Centre.
Game notes
Hlavac scored twice in a 5-5 tie in Los Angeles on Dec. 14
and had one of the Rangers' two hat tricks this season in a 5-5 tie
against New Jersey on Jan. 6. Theoren Fleury had New York's other
hat trick against Tampa Bay on Nov. 1. ... The Canadiens last home
win over the Rangers was on Jan. 16, 1999. ... Delisle, who has
played seven games this season, played his fifth straight since
being recalled from Quebec City of the AHL.
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ALSO SEE
NHL Scoreboard
NY Rangers Clubhouse
Montreal Clubhouse
Savage joins Montreal's long wounded list
RECAPS
New Jersey 3
Atlanta 2
Los Angeles 6
Carolina 3
Colorado 2
San Jose 1
NY Rangers 2
Montreal 2
Ottawa 3
Tampa Bay 0
Philadelphia 5
Florida 3
Toronto 2
Buffalo 0
St. Louis 3
Vancouver 0
Edmonton 2
Detroit 1
AUDIO/VIDEO
 The Rangers' Mike Richter makes a diving save against Xavier Delisle.
avi: 419 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Jan Hlavac scores on a breakaway for New York's first goal.
avi: 627 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
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