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NHL: N.Y. Rangers 2, Tampa Bay 1

PRAGUE, Czech Republic (UPI) -- Brandon Dubinsky's goal late in the third period gave the New York Rangers an NHL season-opening 2-1 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning in Prague.

After a scoreless first period, the Rangers' Markus Naslund and Tampa Bay's Martin St. Louis traded second- and third-period goals before Dubinsky settled the issue.

The contest, played in the Czech Republic capital, marked the return of the Lightning's Barry Melrose, who coached his first game since he coached the Los Angeles Kings in the 1994-95 season.

Melrose, a longtime analyst for the ESPN cable sports network, replaced John Tortorella, who was fired in June.

It was the second straight year that the NHL opened its season with a contest in Europe.

Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist, a Vezina Trophy nominee in each of his first three NHL seasons, stopped 20-of-21 shots.

His Lightning counterpart, Mike Smith, stopped 39-of-41 shots.

The teams meet again Sunday.

Copyright 2008 by United Press International

This news arrived on: 10/04/2008

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