Bertuzzi Spoils It for Bure

Todd Bertuzzi knew the New York Rangers would be riding high after adding six-time All-Star Pavel Bure to their roster.

He was determined to spoil the debut.

Bertuzzi came up with a hat trick and the Vancouver Canucks beat the Rangers, 3-1, Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden.

“Tonight was a big task,” Bertuzzi said, “especially with the Pavel trade.”

Ed Jovanovski, who played a solid and physical game against Bure’s linemate, Eric Lindros, also took note of the occasion.

“There was a lot of excitement in the air before the game with Pavel coming to play for New York,” he said. “He can really raise the emotional level for the crowd and the team. We came in there and played a calm game. We weathered the storm.”

Bertuzzi’s final goal was scored into an empty net with 8.2 seconds left, giving the Canucks their fifth consecutive victory, all on the road. Vancouver moved into the eighth and final spot in the Western Conference playoff race with 77 points.

“I felt pretty good although, obviously, I’m not satisfied with the loss,” Bure said. “We had lots of chances, we just didn’t finish them. Sometimes that happens.”

Bure, acquired from Florida on Monday, gave the Rangers a 1-0 lead and showed bursts of speed and puck sense not seen with the Rangers all season.

“Oh, he’s definitely talented,” Lindros said. “He takes lots of shots, which is good.... I think things are just going to get better.”

Boston 4, Phoenix 2--Byron Dafoe stopped 27 shots at Boston and the Bruins won their fourth in a row to take over the top spot in the Eastern Conference with 86 points, one more than Philadelphia.

Buffalo 5, Ottawa 1--Chris Gratton had a goal and two assists at Buffalo, N.Y., helping the Sabres move closer to a playoff berth.

Martin Biron stopped 33 shots and Buffalo pulled within two points of eighth-place Montreal in the East.

St. Louis 5, Nashville 1--Scott Mellanby and Pavol Demitra scored in a 2:16 span in the second period at St. Louis, and the Blues won for the third time in four games.

Brent Johnson made his eighth consecutive start for St. Louis and made 25 saves.

He assisted on the clincher, a short-handed goal by Chris Pronger with 3:32 to go.

Ray Ferraro, acquired Monday from Atlanta, played his first game for the Blues and had a goal and an assist in the final two minutes.

Toronto 3, New York Islanders 2--Cory Cross scored at 2:11 of overtime and the host Maple Leafs extended their unbeaten streak to six games.

Alexei Yashin scored his 30th goal for the Islanders, who have won only two of their last eight.

Washington 3, Colorado 0--Olie Kolzig stopped 21 shots for his 26th career shutout and Peter Bondra had a goal and an assist at Denver to help the Capitals end a three-game losing streak.