Battle of Best Ends Up Even

Jere Lehtinen’s second goal of the game, with 6:29 to play in regulation, lifted the Dallas Stars into a 3-3 tie with the Detroit Red Wings in a battle of the league’s top two teams on Friday night at Dallas.

After Steve Yzerman’s 12th goal gave the Red Wings a 3-2 lead, Lehtinen took a pass from Mike Modano and fired a wrist shot that glanced off goaltender Chris Osgood’s right elbow and under the crossbar for his 16th goal.

“They’re a hard-working team that does not give you anything,� Detroit’s Darren McCarty said. “You have to earn your points against Dallas.�

Dallas, which entered the game with 63 points and the best record (28-10-8) in the league, is 7-1-4 in its last 12 games. Detroit, which ranked second with 60 points, is 7-2-3 in its last 12 games.

“Even after we came back to tie the game, we still had a number of good opportunities to win it,� Modano said. “Even though we have not beaten them this year, we’re staying right with them.

“We played a strong game tonight and had a very solid effort in our last game against them in Detroit. So, it’s not like they have dominated us.�

Phoenix 4, Chicago 2--Oleg Tverdovsky broke a tie with his first goal of the season 46 seconds into the third period to lead the Coyotes to the victory at Chicago.

Rick Tocchet added an insurance goal with 1:51 remaining. Jeremy Roenick and Keith Tkachuk also scored for Phoenix.

Eric Daze and Gary Suter scored for the Blackhawks.

New Jersey 4, Tampa Bay 1--Brian Rolston had a goal and an assist in a three-goal first period to lead the Devils over the Lightning at East Rutherford, N.J.

Washington 4, Philadelphia 1--The Capitals’ Dale Hunter assisted on the three second-period goals, giving the 18-year veteran 682 assists to go with 318 goals for 1,000 points, as Washington won at home.

Hunter’s 1,000th came when he set up Craig Berube’s 40-foot slap shot in the second period. He also assisted on goals by Peter Bondra and Mark Tinordi.

Calgary 3, Florida 3--Kirk Muller scored his second goal of the game with 6:09 remaining in the third period as the Panthers, who led twice, salvaged a tie with the Flames at Calgary.