Malik ended the NHL’s longest shootout in the 15th round Saturday night, fooling goalie Olie Kolzig with a trick shot to give the New York Rangers a 3-2 home win over Washington.
“You have to have guts to do that move,” said Jagr, penalized at the start of overtime for using an illegal stick. “In front of 20,000 people watching you, it’s not that easy to do.”
With only two healthy skaters left on the Rangers’ bench, Malik – a defenseman – took a shot with his stick between his skates and beat Kolzig, who played junior hockey for the Tri-City Americans, for the Rangers’ fifth consecutive victory – their longest winning streak in nearly four years.
“I was watching everything before me,” Malik said. “Olie was unbelievable, he stopped everything from shots, moves. I just thought to myself, ‘Maybe I’ll surprise him.’ I tried the move and it worked.”
New York’s five-game winning streak is its best stretch since a five-game run from March 30-April 8, 2002. The Rangers (16-7-3) are nine over .500 for the first time since the end of the 1995-96 season.
The Rangers, who also got shootout goals from Michael Nylander, Ville Nieminen and Jason Strudwick, improved to 4-1 in the new tiebreaker. Washington fell to 3-2 in shootouts despite goals from Andrew Cassels, Brian Willsie and Bryan Muir.
Islanders 4, at Flyers 2: Jason Blake scored three times and Brad Lukowich had the go-ahead goal 4:43 into the third period, leading New York over Philadelphia.
At Senators 4, Bruins 2: Jason Spezza had two goals and two assists and linemates Dany Heatley and Daniel Alfredsson each had a goal and two assists for Ottawa.
At Maple Leafs 4, Canadiens 3 (OT): Mats Sundin scored a power-play goal at 1:29 of overtime to give Toronto its 10th victory in its past 13 games against Montreal.
At Thrashers 7, Panthers 4: Marc Savard had two goals and two assists to help Atlanta end a three-game losing streak.
Blue Jackets 4, at Blues 3: Aaron Johnson’s first goal of the season snapped a third-period tie and Columbus ended a seven-game losing streak.
Stars 3, at Predators 1: Stu Barnes, Jere Lehtinen and Antti Miettinen scored goals and Marty Turco made 23 saves for Dallas.
At Coyotes 2, Canucks 1: Ladislav Nagy had a goal and an assist and Curtis Joseph made 34 saves for Phoenix.
At Kings 3, Blackhawks 2: Luc Robitaille scored the go-ahead goal late in the second period, and Alexander Frolov had a goal and an assist for Los Angeles.
Red Wings 7, at Sharks 6: Brendan Shanahan scored the tying and winning goals in a 70-second span late in the third period and Mathieu Schneider scored three goals to help Detroit hand San Jose its ninth loss in a row.
Slap shots
Los Angeles Kings left wing Ryan Flinn sustained a severe head injury when his head struck the ice during a fight with Chicago defenseman Jim Vandermeer. The game was delayed eight minutes midway through the first period while the Kings’ medical staff attended to Flinn, who got in the most punches during the brawl and at one point knocked Vandermeer’s helmet off. Flinn was placed on a stretcher and carried off the ice, leaving a large pool of blood behind. The 25-year-old Flinn was called up from Manchester of the AHL on Saturday. … Pittsburgh Penguins rookie center Sidney Crosby could miss today’s game at Tampa Bay with a bruised left foot. … The Atlanta Thrashers recalled goalie Adam Berkhoel from the Chicago Wolves of the AHL. … The Florida Panthers activated center Rostislav Olesz from the injured list, and he scored a goal in the second period against Atlanta.
