Demers Gets Win No. 400

Coach Jacques Demers of the Tampa Bay Lightning put the proper perspective on reaching a coaching milestone Tuesday night.

Rob Zamuner scored the game-winning goal in the second period and Corey Schwab stopped 14 shots as the Lightning defeated the Buffalo Sabres, 2-1, at Tampa, Fla., giving Demers his 400th victory.

“I’m going to get it [the game puck] framed and I’m going to put wife’s name on it,” said Demers, whose wife, Debbie, was diagnosed with breast cancer last year. “I wanted to share it with her because I didn’t think she would be here tonight.”

Demers is the 12th coach in NHL history to reach the milestone and second in as many days. The Philadelphia Flyers’ Roger Neilson won his 400th game Monday night.

“Jacques is an emotional guy and really cares about his team . . . we’re glad we could give something back to him,” Zamuner said. “It’s a nice night for Jacques and he deserves one day of feeling good about our team.”

The Lightning ended an eight-game winless streak and also beat the Sabres for the first time since Schwab posted a 4-0 shutout against them on Oct. 15, 1996.

Zamuner scored only his second goal since the 1998 Olympics, giving the Lightning a 2-1 lead after 40 minutes. The left wing beat Dominik Hasek through a screen from the left circle at 12:43.

Calgary 3, Detroit 1--Jarome Iginla scored two goals at Calgary.

With the score tied, 1-1, Iginla put the Flames ahead for good 4:20 into the third period when he fired a rebound from a Jeff Shantz shot past goaltender Norm Maracle.

It was the 18th goal for Iginla, who scored only 13 times in 70 games last season.

Andrew Cassels also scored for the Flames, who won for the second time in their last nine home games.

Phoenix 4, St. Louis 2--Rick Tocchet and Greg Adams each had a goal and an assist for the Coyotes at Phoenix.

Tocchet’s 14th goal of the season was the 399th of his career, good for 52nd in NHL history and 13th among active players.

Shane Doan and Dallas Drake also scored for the Coyotes, while Al MacInnis and Craig Conroy scored the Blues’ goals.

Ottawa 2, N.Y. Rangers 1--Radek Bonk scored the game-winning goal and Ron Tugnutt made 21 saves at New York.

Bonk scored at 9:43 of the third period after Ranger defenseman Peter Popovic turned the puck over to Andreas Dackell in his own end and Dackell fed Bonk with a goalmouth pass. Bonk redirected the puck past Ranger goalie Mike Richter for his ninth goal of the season.

Tugnutt held the Rangers at bay the rest of the way, making a game-saving stop on Mike Richter with eight minutes to play.

Nashville 4, Vancouver 1--Blair Atcheynum enjoyed the first multi-goal game of his career, scoring two goals at Nashville, Tenn.

The Predators outshot the Canucks, 40-19, and won the season series, 3-1.

“Everybody’s got one team they have a hard time beating,” said Donald Brashear, who scored the Canucks’ only goal. “[For us], it’s Nashville.

“They were outhustling and outskating us. They were better in every department.”