Hejduk Lifts Colorado in a Physical Matchup

Milan Hejduk had three goals, and Colorado scored five times in the first period en route to a 9-2 victory Monday night over the host Vancouver Canucks.

The fight-filled game started with Colorado forward Steve Moore’s being challenged to fight, and ended with his being carted off the ice on a stretcher after being punched and jumped at center ice by Todd Bertuzzi.

Moore delivered the hit last month that knocked Canuck captain Markus Naslund out for three games because of a concussion.

Bertuzzi sought revenge when he punched Moore in the head from behind while skating at center ice. Bertuzzi jumped on Moore’s back and drove him face first into the ice, knocking him unconscious.

Trainers from both teams rushed to Moore’s side while players from both teams squared off for more fights.

Moore was motionless on the ice with a puddle of blood pouring onto the ice around him.

After a 10-minute delay, Moore was strapped onto a stretcher and wheeled out of the arena.

Tampa Bay 1, Detroit 1 -- Fredrik Modin’s goal with 7 minutes 39 seconds left in regulation lifted the Lightning into a tie with the host Red Wings.

The Lightning, the Eastern Conference leader, clinched the Southeast Division title with 91 points. Tomas Holmstrom scored for Detroit, which leads the West with 90 points.

Detroit’s Manny Legace had 37 saves, and Tampa Bay’s Nikolai Khabibulin had 28.

Carolina 4, Columbus 1 -- Aaron Ward returned to the Hurricanes’ lineup and scored two goals for the first time in his career.

Ward had sat out 19 games because of a wrist injury and was activated just before the game at Columbus.

The Blue Jackets ended a scoreless streak of 114 minutes 23 seconds when Rick Nash scored his NHL-leading 37th goal with 7:42 remaining. It was Nash’s 19th power-play goal this season, extending his league lead.

Ottawa 4, Washington 1 -- Chris Phillips and Martin Havlat scored first-period goals to lift the Senators at Washington.

It was Peter Bondra’s first game against the Capitals.

Bondra, Washington’s career leader in scoring and most other offensive categories, had his five-game point-scoring streak ended.