NHL Messier passes Howe in points

The New York Rangers captain scored two goals against Dallas.
NEW YORK (AP) -- Even at 42, Mark Messier still has a flair for dramatics.
Messier enjoyed being tied with Gordie Howe on the NHL points list for two periods before he passed Mr. Hockey in the closing seconds of the New York Rangers' 3-0 victory Tuesday night over the Dallas Stars.
The Rangers captain scored the first and last goals to give him 1,851 points and set off an on-ice hug with his teammates.
"I always find it hard to celebrate something like that, but what I have to realize is it's a tremendous honor for all the people I played with and the game of hockey itself," Messier said.
Messier found an empty net for a short-handed goal with 4.7 seconds left.
"Well, I wasn't really thinking about that point right there," Messier said. "Obviously if the opportunity presented itself, I wasn't going to pass it up."
Clutch player
It was just like the night in 1994 when he guaranteed New York would beat New Jersey in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals and stay alive in route to the Rangers' first Stanley Cup in 54 years.
Messier sealed that win by landing the puck flat in the empty New Jersey goal.
"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.
The second goal came when Alex Kovalev fed Messier as he streaked down the right wing. When Messier hit the back of the vacated net, he threw his hands up in exultation, and the referees allowed the New York bench to empty and greet him in the Dallas zone.
"I can't lie, I definitely wanted to do it in this rink," Messier said. "You only have one opportunity to do things like this."
Former Oiler
Rangers coach and general manager 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.
Back then he didn't have any thoughts about passing Howe, a man Messier said was very well-respected in his Edmonton, Alberta, home.
"I was having a tough enough time staying out of Glen's office when I was 17, 18 years old," Messier said. "I think everybody who comes into the league, you feel like you want to come in and establish themselves and contribute to a team and obviously win a Stanley Cup. That's what we grow up with.
"You don't think about scoring goals, making assists or entering the Hall of Fame or doing those things."
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 over 26 NHL seasons. Wayne Gretzky is first with 2,857 points.
Messier's linemate Matthew Barnaby also scored in the second period for the Rangers, 4-1-2-1 at home this season. Jussi Markkanen made 34 saves for his first win of the season and sixth career shutout. Markkanen spelled Mike Dunham, who didn't start for the first time in nine games.