Messier passes Howe on NHL points list

Messier passes Howe on NHL points list
Eds: PMs. Stands for BC-HKN--Stars-Rangers Folo
AP Photos
By IRA PODELL
AP Sports Writer
NEW YORK (AP) -- Mark Messier never even dreamed about topping idol Gordie Howe's scoring total.
It still didn't cross Messier's mind when he hit the ice in the final seconds of the New York Rangers' 3-0 victory over the Dallas Stars on Tuesday night.
But Messier took the puck along the right-wing boards and shot it into the empty Dallas net with 4.7 seconds left. It gave him 1,851 points, one more than Howe.
"I wasn't really thinking about that point right there," the 42-year-old Messier said after moving into second place on the NHL list. "Obviously if the opportunity presented itself, I wasn't going to pass it up."
Alex Kovalev assisted on Messier's goals that opened and closed the scoring.
When Messier hit the vacated net, he threw his hands up in exultation, and the referees allowed all the Rangers to leave the bench and greet him in the Dallas zone.
"I can't lie, I definitely wanted to do it in this rink," Messier said.
Rangers coach Glen Sather clapped on the bench as Messier's family hugged in the stands. Sather was Messier's first NHL coach when the star was just 18.
"I don't think there is another adjective left to describe Mark. He has been great," Sather said.
Messier gave the Rangers a 1-0 lead 1:37 into the second period, earning his 1,850th point in his 1,691st game. Howe played 1,767 games in 26 NHL seasons. Wayne Gretzky is first with 2,857 points.
"Besides being a clutch player, he has a thing to come up with the big moment and make it fun for the people around," said Rangers defenseman Brian Leetch, Messier's teammate for 10 seasons.
Messier's linemate Matthew Barnaby also scored in the second for the Rangers, 4-1-2-1 at home. Jussi Markkanen made 34 saves for his first win and sixth career shutout. Markkanen spelled Mike Dunham, who didn't start for the first time in nine games.
Dunham served as Markkanen's backup for precautionary reasons relating to a sore groin. Markkanen allowed five goals in his Rangers debut, a 5-0 loss to Columbus in New York's second game this season.
"We all knew that Mark was one point shy, and we all know how good of a team Dallas is so it was a big game for all of us," Markkanen said.
Marty Turco made 17 saves for the Stars, who had a four-game unbeaten streak snapped (3-0-1).
"We made a lot of mistakes, and it's definitely hard to string together wins when you make mistakes," Stars forward Bill Guerin said.
Dallas nearly cut into the lead 1:14 into the third period when Rob DiMaio rang a shot of the post.
Later in the period, Brenden Morrow raced in on a breakaway, but Markkanen denied him with a flailing stop of his hard drive. A puck also trickled behind Markkanen and hit the left post.
In the second period, Markkanen stopped a shot with his mask just before Messier made more hockey history.
"I wish it wasn't against us, but everybody in the league is happy for Mark," Guerin said. "He's been the complete package for 25 years, and he deserves everything he gets. He's just a machine that keeps on going and going."
Barnaby made it 2-0 with 4:59 left in the second. Dallas had a four-minute power play in the third, in which they had 17 shots, but couldn't dent Markkanen.
The Stars were on another power play when Messier scored his second goal, sixth this season.
Messier is in eighth place with 682 goals, tied for third with 1,169 career assists, and second to Howe in games played. He's a 16-time All-Star and six-time Stanley Cup champion.
His first point came on his mother's birthday in 1979, Howe's last NHL season.
Notes: Dallas was 6-1-1 in eight previous games against New York. ... Rangers D Tom Poti sat out due to the flu. C Petr Nedved also missed the game because of a strained neck.