NHL ROUNDUP : Lemieux Returns, but Devils Win

New Jersey’s Stephane Richer scored the game-winner 57 seconds into overtime Wednesday night to spoil the return of Claude Lemieux to the Brendan Byrne Arena and give the Devils a 4-3 victory over the Colorado Avalanche.

Lemieux, who was the playoff MVP in leading the Devils to the Stanley Cup last season, played his first game in New Jersey after a trade that sent him to Colorado after a bitter contract dispute.

“I thought it was going to be difficult,” Lemieux said. “You want to play a good game but at the same time it’s tough playing against guys you were friends with for so many years.

“I’m not the first person to go through this and I won’t be the last.”

Philadelphia 2, Florida 1----Kevin Haller scored from just inside the blue line with 30 seconds left in overtime to lift the Flyers over the Panthers at Miami.

Haller’s shot came after a last-minute blitz by Philadelphia in which Florida goaltender John Vanbiesbrouck negated four rapid-fire shots by the Flyers.

Tampa Bay 2, Hartford 2----Defenseman Roman Hamrlik’s power-play goal at 17:37 of the second period at St. Petersburg, Fla., gave Tampa Bay a tie and extended the Lightning’s unbeaten streak to six games (5-0-1).

St. Louis 5, Montreal 4----Brett Hull had a goal and two assists at St. Louis as the Blues ended a five-game winless streak.

New York Rangers 5, Buffalo 3----Mike Richter made 30 saves as the Rangers extended their home undefeated streak to eight.

Calgary 5, San Jose 3--Michael Nylander scored with 11:43 left to break a tie and lift the Flames to a victory at San Jose in a battle of the worst teams in the Western Conference.

Chicago 2, Vancouver 2--Russ Courtnall’s unassisted goal 3:03 into the third period at Vancouver gave the Canucks a tie with the Blackhawks.