Robinson Wins Debut

For one game, a coaching change made the difference for the New Jersey Devils.

Under new leader Larry Robinson, who replaced the fired Robbie Ftorek on Thursday, the Devils got four-point games from linemates Patrik Elias and Petr Sykora on Friday night in an 8-2 rout of the New York Islanders at Uniondale, N.Y.

“We played with some new life,” said goalie Martin Brodeur, who made 19 saves in his 40th victory of the season. “We kept the game simple and solid.”

Dallas 5, Chicago 1--Mike Modano, who has 19 goals and 22 assists in his last 28 games, scored the tiebreaking goal with 11:43 to play at Dallas as the Stars extended their unbeaten streak to six games.

Pittsburgh 5, Atlanta 3--Five players scored for the Penguins and Jaromir Jagr assisted on the clinching goal with 2:35 to play at Atlanta.

San Jose 5, Phoenix 1--Mike Ricci had two goals and an assist as the Sharks romped at San Jose.

St. Louis 5, Tampa Bay 1--Al MacInnis scored the 300th and 301st goals of his career at Tampa, Fla., leading the Blues to their fifth consecutive victory.

Around the League

Sports medicine doctors around the country sent a warning to Eric Lindros, who is sidelined after suffering his fourth concussion: His next injury might put him out of hockey for good. And given Lindros’ increasingly strained relationship with the Philadelphia Flyers, speculation is that Lindros, 27, could be close to retiring after an eight-year career.