NEW YORK — Former Cincinnati Cyclone Frederic Cassivi stopped 33 shots in his first NHL start, and former Cincinnati Mighty Duck Tony Hrkac scored a pair of goals Friday night to lead the Atlanta Thrashers to a 5-2 win over the New York Rangers.

        Atlanta rookie Dan Snyder had a goal and an assist for his first NHL points in his fourth game.

        New York, in ninth place, trails Montreal by three points in the race for the final Eastern Conference playoff berth.

        Dan Blackburn allowed all five Atlanta goals in relief of Mike Richter, who was injured early in the first period when struck in the face mask by a shot.

        New York's Eric Lindros reached 30 goals for the seventh time in his career. Rangers forward Pavel Bure had a goal and has scored in all three games with New York since being acquired from Florida.
       

        • Canadiens 3, Lightning 3, at Tampa, Fla. — Yanic Perreault scored with 6.2 seconds left in regulation as Montreal rallied to tie Tampa Bay. Richard Zednik was stopped on a penalty shot by Tampa Bay goalie Nikolai Khabibulin, who made a glove save to deny him with 3:40 left in the second period.

        Nikita Alexeev scored a fluke power-play goal with 3:37 left in regulation to give Tampa Bay a 3-2 lead. The Lightning are unbeaten in seven games (3-0-4).
       

        • Blues 3, Ducks 2, at St. Louis — Scott Mellanby scored late in the third period.

        • Stars 4, Coyotes 3, at Dallas — Brenden Morrow's goal with :21.8 left capped a three-goal, third-period rally that lifted Dallas.

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