WASHINGTON - Robert Lang was traded from the Capitals to the Red Wings on Friday for left wing Tomas Fleischmann, a first-round draft pick in June and fourth-round pick in 2006.
Even with a talented lineup, the Red Wings still believed they needed a big forward, preferably a center, and Lang fit.
"We felt it was a move we had to make and couldn't pass up," Detroit general manager Ken Holland said. "And it's at a price we could live with."
Lang's $5-million salary is reasonable, Holland said, especially with the player getting a point per game.
Lang, a center, is tied for first in the league with 74 points. He was signed in 2002, his five-year, $25-million free-agent deal still the richest in Capitals history.
"This is no offense to anybody in Washington," Lang said. "But it's always great to go from a team that doesn't really have a bright future to go to a team with bright horizons."
Holland said he had talked with Capitals general manager George McPhee about Lang as early as August.
"We could not have asked for more from Robert Lang over the past two seasons," McPhee said. "He has been a terrific player for our club, and we consider him as the best free-agent signing in the team's history."
ISLANDERS: Captain Michael Peca missed Friday's game because of an injured left leg. The center was cut after being hit by Tom Poti's shot Thursday against the Rangers.
RANGERS: Center Eric Lindros is making significant progress after his eighth concussion and said he hopes to return in March. He took a hit from Capitals defenseman Jason Doig on Jan. 28.
SHARKS: Defenseman Mike Ricci was placed on injured reserve with a strained right shoulder sustained when he was driven into the boards Thursday. He is expected to miss a week.
Thrashers edge Devils despite playing without top scorer
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - Dany Heatley scored on a power play with 5:48 left as the Thrashers overcame the benching of leading scorer Ilya Kovalchuk for a 3-2 victory over the Devils.
Kovalchuk, whose 33 goals are tied for the league lead, was disciplined by coach Bob Hartley for missing a team meeting earlier Friday. Heatley, who set up Patrik Stefan's two-on-one goal in the second, deflected a shot by defenseman Andy Sutton past Martin Brodeur.
Atlanta, however, lost center Marc Savard to a knee injury. Savard, who did not play in the third, missed most of January with a knee injury. His status is unknown.
ISLANDERS 4, SABRES 2: Visiting New York solidified its playoff spot behind Rick DiPietro's career-high 42 saves. Up 3-2 in the third, DiPietro kicked out his left skate to get a piece of Dmitri Kalinin's point shot. The Islanders regained control with Kenny Jonsson leading an odd-man rush. Jonsson fed a pass across to Oleg Kvasha, whose soft shot handcuffed Martin Biron.
OILERS 7, COYOTES 2: Ethan Moreau scored twice to cap a franchise-record five goals in 5:38 for visiting Edmonton. Fernando Pisani and Adam Oates scored 52 seconds apart to make it 3-1. Shawn Horoff made it 4-1 2:57 later, ending goalie Brian Boucher's night with a one-timer from the left faceoff circle. Moreau then beat Jean-Marc Pelletier twice in 1:32 to make it 6-1. On Oct. 24, 1996, the Oilers scored five in 6:44 of an 8-2 victory over St. Louis.
STARS 3, WILD 1: Stu Barnes' short-handed goal with 8:37 left broke a tie and helped Dallas extend its home unbeaten streak to 10 (7-0-3). With Brenden Morrow in the box, Dallas defenseman Jon Klemm passed it in the slot to Barnes, who one-timed it past Manny Fernandez.
CAPITALS 4, PANTHERS 1: Brian Willsie scored the first of four third-period goals for visiting Washington. He tied it 4:47 in, intercepting a pass in the high slot and ending Roberto Luongo's shutout streak at 182 minutes, 37 seconds. Kip Miller made it 2-1 by poking in a rebound with 8:41 left.
JACKETS 4, BLACKHAWKS 3: Luke Richardson scored his first goal in 183 games with 2:51 left for visiting Columbus. He beat Michael Leighton from 50 feet on a shot through traffic. He last scored Dec. 8, 2001, while with Philadelphia.
