UNIONDALE, N.Y., Nov. 8 (UPI) -- Theo Fleury, Brian Leetch and Sandy McCarthy scored 65 seconds apart midway through the third period Thursday night as the New York Rangers taunted their archrivals in a 6-2 victory over the New York Islanders.
The once-bitter rivalry cooled in recent years while both teams struggled. But the Islanders added Alexei Yashin, Michael Peca and Chris Osgood in the offseason and have moved to the top of the Atlantic Division.
The Rangers acquired Eric Lindros and used this victory to climb within five points of first place.
The Islelanders grabbed the lead on Yashin's goal 2:01 into the game, but the Rangers' took control with their quick flurry.
Fleury tied it at 9:15, beating Osgood between the pads with a wrist shot from the right faceoff circle. Just 38 seconds later, Leetch stickhandled through the Islanders' zone, moved to the top of the slot and put a wrister into the top left corner of the net.
McCarthy made it 3-1 at 10:20. A turnover by Jason Blake sent the Rangers in 2-on-none. After Osgood stopped a shot by Steve McKenna, McCarthy poked in the rebound for his second goal of the season.
As he scored, McCarthy was knocked down by former Rangers defenseman Eric Cairns, setting off a series of minor altercations. On the bench, Fleury flapped his arms in a chicken-like motion and McCarthy flexed his bicep while in the penalty box.
Mark Parrish's league-leading 13th goal got the Islanders within 3-2 early in the second period, but Radek Dvorak answered on the power play less than four minutes later and Mark Messier and Lindros scored in the third to finish off the Rangers' third straight win.
