Late-Goal Flurry Started by Sakic

Joe Sakic scored a power-play goal with 4:32 remaining and had two assists to lead the Colorado Avalanche to a 6-3 victory Sunday over the New York Rangers at New York.

The goal came 29 seconds after Theo Fleury was called for tripping Avalanche defenseman Jon Klemm.

“I just tried to fire it on net,” Sakic said of the game-winner. “It went of the post and off his [goalie Mike Richter’s] back. It’s one of those lucky goals.”

Sakic had nine goals and 13 assists in November, and is off to a good start this month with three goals and three assists in two games.

Ray Bourque had two assists and scored a short-handed goal into an empty net with 38.6 seconds left to seal the victory for Colorado. Shjon Podein also scored an empty-net goal seconds later.

Peter Forsberg, who returned after being sidelined eight games with a rib injury, tied it only 1:11 after Mike York gave New York a 3-2 lead with a short-handed goal.

San Jose 3, Edmonton 3-- Bryan Marchment scored his first goal against his former team with 3:39 remaining to help the Sharks overcome a three-goal deficit at Edmonton, Canada.

Marchment hit a slap shot from the left and beat goaltender Tommy Salo for the score.

The Oilers appeared to be in control, with a 3-0 lead on Anson Carter’s power-play goal 73 seconds into the second period.

But San Jose rallied with goals fromPatrick Marleau in the second period and Owen Nolan at 1:45 into the third.

N.Y. Islanders 1, New Jersey 1--The Devils’ Sergei Brylin pushed a loose puck through goalie John Vanbiesbrouck’s pads with 7:26 left at Uniondale, N.Y., for his sixth goal of the season.

Vanbiesbrouck was brilliant otherwise, turning aside 45 shots.

Mariusz Czerkawski scored the goal for New York. Martin Brodeur stopped 22 shots for New Jersey, which extended its unbeaten streak to eight games (6-0-2).

Ottawa 2, Carolina 0--Alexei Yashin and Rob Zamuner scored seven minutes apart in the second period to lead the Senators at Raleigh, N.C.

Patrick Lalime stopped 28 shots for his second shutout of the season. Ottawa won its third consecutive game and leads the Eastern Conference in 15 wins and 34 points.

Arturs Irbe was trying for his third shutout against the Senators in as many weeks but Yashin ended the scoreless streakthree minutes into the period.

Chicago 5 Columbus 0--Jocelyn Thibault stopped 29 shots at Chicago for his first shutout of the season.

Rookie Chris Herperger scored twice for the Blackhawks, who won at home for only the third time this season.

The Blue Jackets’ eight-game losing streak is the longest in the NHL this season.