Messier Still Has Scoring Touch

New York Ranger fans calling for Mark Messier to retire better think again.

The 41-year-old Messier scored twice in a three-minute span and goaltender Mike Richter moved within three wins of 300, giving Bryan Trottier a victory in his first game as Ranger coach as New York beat the Carolina Hurricanes, 4-1, Wednesday night at Raleigh, N.C.

The captain of the Rangers missed 41 games last season because of shoulder problems, scoring only seven goals. But Messier was strong at the start of his 24th NHL season, moving past Detroit’s Steve Yzerman and into seventh place on the all-time goals list.

Messier scored his 659th goal nine seconds after Carolina failed to score on one of its nine unsuccessful power plays. He added goal No. 660 three minutes later from the side of the net as the Rangers cashed in with the man advantage to go up, 2-0.

“We have a chance this year to control our own destiny,” Messier said. “So, through training camp we worked hard on detail.... For the first game of the year that was an unbelievable pace.”

Meanwhile, the 36-year-old Richter won No. 297 against the defending Eastern Conference champions, losing his shutout bid when Rod Brind’Amour scored with 3:41 left.

Dallas 1, Colorado 1--Colorado’s Radim Vrbata scored the tying goal in the third period, and the Avalanche tied the Stars at Denver.

Dallas’ Niko Kapanen scored at 4:20 of the first period--the first goal of the NHL season and the first of his career.

Dallas goaltender Marty Turco had 40 saves, and Colorado’s Patrick Roy had 24.

Dallas center Jason Arnott had to be helped from the ice after injuring his right leg when he was dragged down by Vaclav Nedorost near the goal in the first period. He did not return and was to be reevaluated today.

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Alexei Kovalev, one of the NHL’s top scorers the last two seasons, and Pittsburgh broke off contract extension talks until after the season.... Forward Chris Gratton missed a second day of practice because of a broken left foot and is listed as questionable for Buffalo’s season opener tonight. Gratton was injured in a game against Toronto on Sept. 27, but continued to skate before sitting out Tuesday.