Ottawa Fans Salute Gretzky

Wayne Gretzky received a memorable send-off from the fans in Kanata, Canada, during the New York Rangers’ 2-2 tie with the Ottawa Senators Thursday.

It was probably the final game in his native country for Gretzky, who likely will announce today that he is retiring. The crowd of 18,499 showed its appreciation.

With 4:43 to play in the third period, the fans began to chant “One more year” as the teams headed to their benches for a TV timeout.

Then the crowd grew even louder as the screen on the four-sided scoreboard hanging over center ice began replaying Gretzky highlights.

Gretzky took a curtain call when the game ended, then another one 10 minutes later when the crowd continued to cheer.

In other games:

Boston got two goals from Anson Carter to defeat visiting Buffalo, 4-2. . . . Alexi Zhamnov scored the go-ahead goal to lead Chicago to a 4-2 victory over visiting Nashville. . . . Theoren Fleury returned to Calgary, but Clarke Wilm scored two goals in the Flames’ 5-1 win over Colorado. . . . Al MacInnis had a goal and two assists in a 5-4 victory for St. Louis in Phoenix.