Red Wings Bury Rangers Again

No music played, the lounge television was off and the New York Rangers spoke in hushed tones after another humbling defeat pushed them closer to postseason elimination.

Chris Osgood made 40 saves and Steve Yzerman scored twice Monday night as the Detroit Red Wings completed a dominating two-day home-and-home sweep of the Rangers with a 6-0 victory.

Detroit, which outscored New York in the contests 14-2, received cheers from the crowd while the home team heard boos. The Rangers lost their fifth straight outscored 27-10 and are 1-8-1 in 10 games.

"I think, if anything, they were nice to us with the way the game went tonight," Rangers forward Adam Graves said of the fans.

"I thought we were a playoff team," captain Brian Leetch said. "We've given a lot of points away where we shouldn't be in this position right now where the slump has killed us."

Detroit, with 103 points, has the NHL's second-best record and trails Central Division-rival St. Louis by just three points for the top spot.

"I think we're playing for our own team," Yzerman said. "If we catch the Blues great, but we're just trying to get ourselves set up for the playoffs."

The Red Wings scored twice in each period.

"I think the game n Detroit obviously hurt their spirits. They didn't have time to recover," Yzerman said of the Red Wings' 8-2 victory Sunday. "You see the season ending, it's demoralizing. I don't think they gave up."

Osgood earned his 28th career shutout, fifth this season. He did not allow a goal this season in New York, shutting out the Rangers and Islanders once each. Osgood did not play in the Red Wings' lone trip to Buffalo.

"I started Osgood because I thought he'd get some work tonight and he did," Detroit coach Scotty Bowman said. "This was a well-earned shutout."

The Rangers' best scoring chance came during an early second-period power play when Osgood denied Graves on a breakaway.

Todd Gill, Brent Gilchrist, Kirk Maltby and Tomas Holmstrom also scored for the Red Wings, who won their third in a row and for the 10th time in 15 games (10-2-3). Brendan Shanahan, who had a goal and two assists Sunday, added three assists.

"We were on top of our game," Maltby said.

Nicklas Lidstrom extended his point streak to nine games, setting up Yzerman's first goal. Lidstrom, who also had a goal and two assists Sunday, has 16 points during his stretch.

Detroit took a 1-0 lead with 4:57 left in the first when Gill followed his own rebound and scored his second goal this season.

Mike Richter, pulled after allowing six goals in two periods Sunday, played the entire game despite being slowed since the All-Star break by an aching knee. He made 26 saves.

"It's obvious we were playing a really good team the past two games," said Richter, adding that his knee felt better. "You have to play at your top when you need a win."

Yzerman, who also had a goal and two assists Sunday, made it 2-0 with a power-play goal from a tough angle 1:04 after Gill scored.

Gilchrist got his fourth goal with 7:31 left in the second to give Detroit a three-goal lead.

The goal prompted chants of "Fire Muckler" in Madison Square Garden, referring to Rangers coach John Muckler. At the start, the Rangers took the ice to boos, while fans cheered for the visitors.

"I wouldn't be happy either if I was watching these games," Leetch said. "It's been two years without playoffs and we're not in the playoffs right now. Fans have pride in being Ranger fans and want to see playoff hockey."

Muckler refuted the notion that the Rangers have quit.

"No," he said. "It's easy for you to say that, but no w haven't."

Yzerman converted a beautiful pass from Stacy Roest, scoring his 35th goal with 1:06 left in the second, to give the Red Wings a 4-0 lead.

Detroit polished New York off in the third when Maltby and Holmstrom scored less than three minutes apart amid loud cheers from the crowd.

"I don't know if they were cheering for us as much as they were frustrated with their team," Yzerman said. "It's been a tough year for the Rangers. They started out in a hole, then they rebounded and now everything's falling apart."

Martin Lapointe, who had his first career three-goal game in Sunday's win over New York, had two assists.

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