Wayne Gretzky had to enjoy this return to Madison Square Garden.
Back in the building where he played the final game of his Hall of Fame career eight years earlier, Gretzky stood behind the Phoenix Coyotes bench for the first time in New York and coached his club to a 5-1 rout of the Rangers on Sunday.
Joel Perrault scored twice and added an assist in just his second game of the season, and Ilya Bryzgalov rode a strong start after a rare day off and made 34 saves. The Coyotes earned their second win in two days and third on a six-game trip that has two stops left.
*Scott Niedermayer returned to the Anaheim Ducks’ lineup on Sunday, playing for the first time since he hoisted the Stanley Cup last June. The 34-year-old Niedermayer, named the playoffs MVP after helping the Ducks win their first NHL title, sat out the first part of this season while contemplating retirement.
*John Madden scored two goals and Martin Brodeur made 29 saves, including a game-turning penalty shot stop, to lead the Devils to a 4-2 win over the visiting Flyers.
