Yzerman returns in win

Captain makes his season debut; Goal by Fedorov the winner

The Associated Press

DETROIT (AP) -- Steve Yzerman's season debut was a success as the Detroit Red Wings beat the Los Angeles Kings 5-4 Monday night.

The Red Wings captain missed the first 61 games this season because of surgery on his right knee on Aug. 2. He last played in Game 5 of last June's Stanley Cup Finals when the Red Wings won the Stanley Cup.

[] Yzerman did not figure into any of the Detroit goals. He played 18 shifts, totaling 13:17 of ice time, but didn't record a shot. He won nine of 15 faceoffs.

"I really enjoyed being back on the ice," Yzerman said. "I was curious to see how I would feel."

Brett Hull and Igor Larionov each had a goal and an assist, and Kirk Maltby, Tomas Holmstrom and Sergei Fedorov also scored for Detroit.

Mathieu Schneider, Ian Laperriere, Eric Belanger and Derek Armstrong had the Los Angeles goals.

Yzerman received a loud greeting from the unusually big crowd that was present for warmups. Then he was given a standing ovation when he came out with the team minutes before the game.

"I thought he played a real solid game," forward Brendan Shanahan said. "Took some important faceoffs for us and took some contact. I though his stride looked good. If that was my first game coming back from surgery, I'd be happy."

Eric Belanger pulled the Kings within 4-3 with 6:52 left when his slap shot from the right faceoff dot beat Manny Legace high to the long side.

Fedorov scored off a breakaway with 3:07 remaining, putting a shot past Jamie Storr after making a move. That goal came just as Yzerman was stepping out of the penalty box after he slashed Laperriere.

But Armstrong brought the Kings back within one goal when he scored with 2:06 left.

Laperriere's goal, off a rebound, with 16.4 seconds left in the second period brought Los Angeles within 4-2. The Red Wings scored three goals in the period.

Larionov made it 2-0 just 40 seconds in when he tipped in Fedorov's pass. But Schneider's power-play goal at 5:37 put the Kings on the board.