Sydor Caps Scoring Spree as Stars Top Penguins, 6-5

This was the kind of wide-open, back-and-forth scoring spree Brett Hull and Mario Lemieux love.

Goals 34 seconds apart. Three tying goals in the third period, with the last one coming 1:06 after a go-ahead goal. Then, after 10 even-strength goals, a four-on-three winner in overtime.

Dallas’ Darryl Sydor got it on a shot that ricocheted into the net off defenseman Hans Jonsson 42 seconds into the extra period, giving the usually defense-oriented Stars a 6-5 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Friday night at Dallas.

“That’s not how we’re supposed to play, but I don’t mind it,” said Hull, whose third-period goal, the 636th of his career, broke a tie with Detroit’s Steve Yzerman for seventh on the all-time list. “I would pay top dollar to watch that every night.”

Fans who paid to see Lemieux weren’t disappointed as he scored midway through the first period, giving Pittsburgh a 2-0 lead. It was his 10th in 11 games and the 623rd of his career, ranking him ninth on the career list.

But the Stars scored three times in the second, including goals 34 seconds apart by Grant Marshall and Ted Donato, and never trailed again.

Dallas moved into a first-place tie with San Jose in the Pacific Division.

Buffalo 1, Florida 0--Denis Hamel scored with 7.9 seconds remaining as the Sabres defeated the Panthers at Buffalo, N.Y.

Hamel blocked a shot by Florida defenseman Bret Hedican, picked up the loose puck in the neutral zone, and unleashed a slap shot from just inside the blue line that eluded Panther goalie Roberto Luongo.

Dominik Hasek stopped 21 shots for his sixth shutout of the season and 51st of his career.

Nashville 1, Boston 0--Cale Hulse scored his first goal of the season at 2:24 of overtime at Nashville, and the Predators earned their sixth home victory of the season and snapped a two-game losing streak.

Mike Dunham stopped 35 shots and earned the fifth shutout of his career.

Chicago 3, Washington 1--Jocelyn Thibault made 24 saves at Chicago as the Blackhawks extended their unbeaten streak to a season-high six games.

Dean McAmmond, Michael Nylander and Tony Amonte scored to help the Blackhawks reach the .500 mark (20-20-4-2) for the first time since the fifth game of the season. Chicago is 5-0-1 during the unbeaten streak and 10-2-2 in its last 14 games.

Minnesota 3, New York Islanders 2--Darby Hendrickson, Antti Laaksonen and Wes Walz scored second-period goals as the Wild won at St. Paul, Minn.

Around the League

Eric Lindros is prepared to sit out the rest of the season if he isn’t traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs, his lawyer said. Gordon Kirke said Lindros still hopes a trade can be worked out between the Philadelphia Flyers and the Maple Leafs by the March 13 trade deadline. “It isn’t likely Eric will change his position,” Kirke said from his Toronto office. “And if a deal isn’t done, he will sit out the season.” Talks between the teams are at an impasse, said Pat Quinn, Toronto’s coach and general manager. . . . Colorado Avalanche forward Adam Deadmarsh will miss at least two games because of a strained knee ligament. . . . Backup goalie Tomas Vokoun signed a contract extension with the Nashville Predators.