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BOX SCORE
ST. LOUIS (AP) -- New York Rangers forward Jan Hlavac was as surprised as anyone to find out he scored in the first period of
Saturday night's 4-1 victory over the St. Louis Blues.
|  | | New York's Kim Johnsson sends Michal Handzus toward the ice. |
That's because the goal was awarded while the Rangers were in
the dressing room between the first and second periods.
"When I came out on the ice for the second period, the guy said
it was a goal," Hlavac said. "That was a big surprise."
Hlavac, who score twice, scored his first goal with 51.7 seconds
left in the first period by poking a rebound of Petr Nedved's shot past Blues goalie Roman Turek.
The goal wasn't awarded immediately as the puck sat on the goal
line for a second or two, then was cleared away.
Play continued until the end of the period and the Rangers
skated off with what appeared to be a 1-0 lead. However, because
there had not been a stoppage before the end of period, officials
reviewed the play during intermission.
When the teams came out for the second period, it was announced
that Hlavac's shot crossed the line and he was awarded his eighth
goal of the season. The game was restarted from that point, and the
teams officially finished the first period.
Rangers coach John Muckler said his team had no idea that it had
been awarded a goal until it took the ice to start the second.
"That's the modern era, I guess," he said. "You use everything you have, including the TV."
New York's first goal, scored by Radek Dvorak with 3:39 left in the first period, also came courtesy of the video replay. Dvorak
took a wrist shot from down low that Turek caught with his glove.
After review, it was ruled that Turek reached into the net to grab
the puck, and Dvorak was awarded his ninth goal.
Blues coach Joel Quenneville was pining for the old days,
particularly when he discovered his team was facing a two-goal
deficit.
"That (Hlavac's goal) really stung, because we didn't see it
coming," he said. "Both those goals were a big factor in the game
tonight."
But John D'Amico, supervisor of officials, said Hlavac's goal
was ruled properly.
"The ruling was that the puck crossed the line," he said.
"When a situation like that happens around the net that close, the
video goal judge marks the time on the clock immediately and you
review at the next play stoppage. The play continued to the end of
the period. Then we have to review it."
Dvorak added an assist, and Mike Richter made 28 saves for the
Rangers, who have won seven of eight.
Hlavac scored his ninth goal 1:37 into the second period to make
it 3-0. Nedved assisted on New York's first three goals.
Tim Taylor added an empty netter with 30 seconds left New York's
other goal.
Pierre Turgeon scored off a rebound with 6:15 left in the game to ruin Richter's shutout bid.
St. Louis did not have a shot on goal during the first 20
minutes until less than 30 seconds remained. But that shot was
subsequently taken away when the final 51.7 seconds were replayed.
It marked the first time since April 5, 1978, the Blues were held
without a shot in a period.
Richter said it took a while for him to get in the game.
"It's hard, because that's a team that comes pretty fast,"
Richter said. "You just got to try to keep yourself mentally
prepared. I just kept telling myself be ready when the next shot
comes."
The loss was only the third for the Blues in their last 17 at
home (10-3-4).
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ALSO SEE
NHL Scoreboard
NY Rangers Clubhouse
St. Louis Clubhouse
Blues' MacInnis out 3-4 weeks with collapsed lung
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Carolina 4
Buffalo 1
Montreal 4
Pittsburgh 2
NY Islanders 2
Tampa Bay 0
Detroit 3
Ottawa 2
Washington 5
Toronto 5
Florida 4
Boston 3
NY Rangers 4
St. Louis 1
Vancouver 3
Edmonton 3
San Jose 4
Anaheim 3
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