Roy Gets 448th Victory to Set Goalie Record

Patrick Roy had to work overtime to set an NHL record for most victories by a goaltender.

The Colorado Avalanche goalie broke Terry Sawchuk’s record with his 448th victory as the Avalanche topped the Washington Capitals, 4-3, Tuesday night at Washington on Peter Forsberg’s goal 2:27 into the extra session.

Sawchuk had held the mark--once considered unbreakable--since 1970. Sawchuk earned his 447th victory in his 968th game while Roy won No. 448 in his 847th game.

“I was honest when I said I wanted to enjoy it and didn’t feel any pressure,” Roy said.

The record was broken in Roy’s first attempt. He tied Sawchuk’s mark on Saturday with a victory over expansion Columbus.

“I didn’t want my wife and friends to follow for too long,” Roy said. “I wanted to end it as soon as possible.”

Roy has won the Vezina Trophy three times and been a member of three Stanley Cup champions. His 14 seasons of winning at least 20 games is a record.

Roy finished with 27 saves, repeatedly robbing the Capitals from in close. During a postgame ceremony, Roy cut the net away from the last goal he defended.

The net will be taken to the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto.

When Forsberg scored on the power play, Roy skated out of the net and jumped several times, waving his arms.

Forsberg redirected Ray Bourque’s slap shot past Washington goalie Olaf Kolzig. Standing in front of the right post, Forsberg pushed the puck into the net, starting the celebration.

Roy raced out toward his teammates, who streamed on the ice like it was the end of a playoff series. They met him at the blue line in front of the Colorado bench.

“It’s fun. The guys deserve all the credit,” Roy said. “It’s fun now to be where I am. The persons in front of me deserve all the credit.”

Ottawa 6, Philadelphia 1--Marian Hossa had a goal and three assists and Jani Hurme recorded his second victory as the Senators defeated the Flyers in Roger Neilson’s return to Philadelphia.

Neilson, the former Flyer coach who thought he had agreed to a contract extension to coach the team through this season, is now an assistant with Ottawa.

“It was a little strange,” Neilson said. “I had never come in through the back with the visitors.”

His old team is winless in five games. His new team is 4-0-1, matching the best start in the franchise’s nine years since rejoining the NHL.

Neilson, who was diagnosed with multiple myeloma last December, left the Flyers on Feb. 19 to pursue aggressive treatment, and never returned to the position he said was promised to him.

Detroit 2, St. Louis 1--Sergei Fedorov and Martin Lapointe scored 1:21 apart in the second period and the Red Wings held on to defeat the Blues at Detroit.

Edmonton 6, Boston 1--Bill Guerin had two power-play goals and rookies Dan LaCouture and Brian Swanson each scored their first NHL goals in leading the Oilers over the Bruins at Edmonton.

Rem Murray and Todd Marchant also scored for the Oilers, who improved to 5-1-1. It is Edmonton’s best start since the 1985-86 season when they began 5-1-0.

Boston has lost three in a row, being outscored, 16-3, after starting 3-0-1.

Montreal 4, Buffalo 3--Martin Rucinsky tipped in Patrice Brisebois’ shot from the point with 56 seconds remaining for a game-winning power-play goal as the Canadiens defeated the Sabres at Montreal.

Atlanta 3, New Jersey 3--Sergei Brylin scored with 3:47 remaining in regulation to give the Devils a tie at Atlanta. Damian Rhodes made a season-high 34 saves for the Thrashers.

Around the League

Philadelphia’s John LeClair will undergo surgery to repair a disk in his back and likely will be sidelined for about six weeks. . . . Montreal captain Saku Koivu had knee surgery and defenseman Sheldon Souray had surgery to repair a muscle tear in his abdomen. Koivu may be out three months; Souray eight to 10 weeks. . . . The Minnesota Wild put right wing Sergei Krivokrasov on injured reserve two days after he suffered a sprained right knee. . . . The New York Rangers put struggling defenseman Jason Doig on waivers and recalled fellow defensemen Dale Purinton and Drew Bannister from the minors. . . . Goaltender Garth Snow, signed by Pittsburgh as an unrestricted free agent, will make his first start for the Penguins Thursday at Ottawa.