Predators Stunned By Gretzky

Wayne Gretzky had five assists and Adam Graves scored two goals as the New York Rangers snapped a three-game losing streak Monday night with a 7-4 victory over the Nashville Predators.

The Rangers never trailed as they scored two goals within 33 seconds and added a third in the first 7:38. The Predators pulled goaltender Mike Dunham then as he stopped just four of the first seven shots he faced.

Backup Tomas Vokoun fared little better as Gretzky set up two of the goals in the first period for a 4-0 lead. He set up both goals in the second period, including his assist to Kevin Stevens off Vokoun's foot at the edge of the post.

Gretzky, who now has had 12 points in his last nine games, came close to breaking his tie with Gordie Howe for most goals in a combined NHL-WHA career in the opening minutes. But Dunham stopped his shot with a glove save.

"If you are brain-dead against Wayne Gretzky, I mean, he can set my four-year-old son up to score if you leave him alone," said Predators captain Tom Fitzgerald.

"He showed flashes of why he's got a gazillion points," said Nashville coach Barry Trotz.

Gretzky had another chance late in the first only to see Todd Harvey get his 11th goal of the season by scoring off Gretzky's miss at 14:08. His final asist came on a power play at 16:47 in the third from behind the net to Mathieu Schneider, who had a slap shot from the high slot for a 7-4 lead.

Gretzky hasn't scored a goal since Feb. 4, but he still finished with his 15th multi-point game this season and first five-assist performance since Nov. 16, 1995, against the Islanders.

Asked if his performance might convince him to play longer, Gretzky laughed and said he didn't know.

"Yes, I played well, but I love to play this game," he said.

Nashville, which lost its sixth straight home game, finally came to life trailing 6-0 midway through the second period.

Greg Johnson scored his 15th of the season off a wrist shot at 10:38, and Sebastien Bordeleau's slap shot 17 seconds later pulled the Predators within 6-2. Greg Walker scored off Mark Mowers' shot at 16:51 to make it 6-3.

The Predators outshot New York 19-6 in the third, and Fitzgerald took advantage of goalie Dan Cloutier's failed attempt at clearing the puck. The puck bounced off the side of the goal, and Fitzgerald stuck it around the corner into the empty net.

But it was still the Great One's night.

"One thing about Wayne is that for a guy that's played so many games, he can still put on a show," said Nashville's Cliff Ronning. "He throws passes through three guys or off the side of the net."

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