Yzerman Joins Select Company in Detroit Victory

Steve Yzerman became the 22nd player in NHL history to score 500 goals as the Red Wings beat the Colorado Avalanche, 3-2, Wednesday night at Detroit.

Yzerman’s milestone goal came at 7:52 of the second period, giving Detroit a 2-0 lead.

With the Red Wings on a power play, Yzerman first shot the puck off the leg of Colorado defenseman Alexei Gusarov. Yzerman got his own rebound and put the puck past goalie Patrick Roy.

After Colorado came back to tie the game, 2-2, early in the third period, Sergei Fedorov’s 19th goal at 11:28 proved to be the game-winner.

Yzerman joined Hall of Famer Gordie Howe as the only players to score 500 goals with the Red Wings. He also became the third player to reach 500 goals this season, joining Pittsburgh’s Mario Lemieux and Mark Messier of the New York Rangers.

Hartford 6, New York Islanders 3--Robert Kron scored twice, breaking open a close game, and Sean Burke stopped 39 shots as the Whalers ended the Islanders’ six-game unbeaten streak at Uniondale, N.Y.

The Whalers also got goals from Jeff Brown, Kevin Dineen, Brendan Shanahan and Geoff Sanderson as they reached the all-star break with six victories in their last eight games.

Tampa Bay 6, San Jose 4--Mikael Andersson and rookie Aaron Gavey each scored twice as the Lightning equaled its best scoring output of the season in beating the Sharks at St. Petersburg, Fla.

Andersson scored his first two goals of the season in a 36-second span of a four-goal first period for Tampa Bay, which improved to 19-18-7. Andersson had a chance for a hat trick but was stopped on a short-handed breakaway by San Jose goaltender Chris Terreri with three minutes remaining.

Edmonton 4, Dallas 3--Curtis Joseph stopped 35 shots to remain unbeaten in three games since signing with Edmonton, and the Oilers won in Dallas for the fourth time in five games.

Mariusz Czerkawski’s second-period goal snapped a 1-1 tie. Zdeno Ciger, Dean McAmmond and Todd Marchant scored against Stars’ rookie goaltenders Manny Fernandez and Jordan Willis to build a 4-1 lead early in the third period.

Montreal 3, Ottawa 0--The Senators opened their glittering new Palladium arena the same way they closed the Ottawa Civic Centre, by losing.

The Palladium, on the westernmost fringes of Ottawa’s Kanata suburb, staged its first hockey game with predictable results for the Senators, who had the NHL’s worst record at 8-33-1 before opening their new home.

Canadiens goaltender Jocelyn Thibault stopped 26 shots for his second shutout of the season.

Winnipeg 4, Toronto 2--Keith Tkachuk scored his 26th and 27th goals to lift the Jets past the Maple Leafs at Toronto.

Pittsburgh 1, Buffalo 0--Tom Barrasso stopped 31 shots, and the Penguins got an early goal from Jaromir Jagr to defeat the Sabres at Buffalo.

Washington 3, Chicago 2--Sergei Gonchar scored a disputed goal with 1:06 to play as the Capitals rallied to beat the Blackhawks in Chicago. The Blackhawks set a club record for fewest shots in a game with 12.

NHL Notes

Neal Broten failed to attend a “punishment” practice called after the Stanley Cup-champion New Jersey Devils played poorly in their final game before the all-star break. Coach Jacques Lemaire wasn’t specific on what action he might take against the center. . . . Vancouver goaltender Kirk McLean will sit out two weeks after knee surgery.