Messier Leads Ranger Comeback

The New York Rangers had only come back to win once in the 20 games this season in which they had trailed going into the third period.

But their team leader, Mark Messier, doubled that total with a flick of his powerful wrists.

Messier, who scored in the third period to tie it, scored an unassisted goal in overtime with a wrist shot from the right circle, enabling the Rangers to beat the Ottawa Senators, 2-1, Saturday night at Ottawa.

The two goals gave Messier 39 for the season.

Tampa Bay 5, Philadelphia 2--When Brian Bradley scores, the Lightning usually wins.

Brian Bradley had two goals and an assist at St. Petersburg, Fla., and Tampa Bay improved to 10-1 in the last 11 games in which Bradley has scored. Bradley leads the Lightning in scoring with 15 goals and 40 assists.

Jeff Reese, backup goalie for the Lightning, shut out the Flyers after giving up two goals in the first seven minutes of the game.

New York Islanders 4, San Jose 2--Zigmund Palffy and Marty McInnis scored early in the first period at Uniondale, N.Y., giving goalie Eric Fichaud a lead he would not surrender. Fichaud, who has made all six of his starts at home, faced only 14 shots, in extending the Sharks’ winless streak to four games (0-3-1).

The Islanders have won all five contests against the Sharks at Nassau Coliseum.

Hartford 2, Buffalo 1--Geoff Sanderson scored 1:49 into overtime at Hartford, ending a string of three consecutive ties and a five-game unbeaten streak for Buffalo.

Montreal 5, Calgary 1--Valeri Bure scored two goals at Montreal to keep the Canadiens unbeaten in their last three games.

But it was a costly victory. Defenseman Patrice Brisebois suffered a bruised lower back that will keep him out at least a week and forward Brian Savage left with a hip pointer that will cost him at least two games.

Boston 4, Vancouver 1--Ted Donato scored twice and Steve Heinze had a goal and an assist in the third period as the Bruins won at Vancouver.