Penguins’ Patrick Has Devil of a Time

No matter who is behind the bench--Craig Patrick or Eddie Johnston--the Penguins won’t win many games without Mario Lemieux and Jaromir Jagr on it.

Doug Gilmour scored a goal and set up another directly after penalties and the New Jersey Devils ruined Patrick’s return as the Penguins’ coach with a 3-1 victory Wednesday night at Pittsburgh.

With Lemieux missing half the game because of a 10-minute misconduct penalty and a hip flexor and Jagr out with a pulled groin, the normally explosive Penguins couldn’t overcome even a 2-0 disadvantage.

The Penguins’ second major slump of the season--they started 2-9--cost Johnston his job as coach Monday as Patrick, the general manager, chose to replace him.

Washington 2, Calgary 1--Adam Oates scored a goal and Bill Ranford made 21 saves in their victorious debuts for the Capitals at Landover, Md.

Oates and Ranford were part of the major trade between the Capitals and Boston last Saturday. Right wing Rick Tocchet, also acquired by Washington in the deal, is still nursing a sore ankle.

Oates’ first goal for the Capitals made it 2-0 early in the second period

Ranford surrendered only a second-period goal to Jonas Hogland.

Tampa Bay 6, New York Islanders 3--Dino Ciccarelli and Chris Gratton each scored twice to lead the Lightning to their seventh win in nine games at Uniondale, N.Y.

John Cullen and Rob Zamuner also scored for the Lightning.

With Tampa Bay leading 5-3, goaltender Rick Tabaracci came up with seven saves in the last 3 1/2 minutes to preserve the win, including a sliding stick save on Bryan Smolinski with 45 seconds left. Gratton added an empty net goal with 18.4 seconds left.