Yashin Adds Some Punch to His Game

Alexei Yashin got his seventh career three-goal game and his first NHL fight.

No one was surprised the latter came against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden.

Yashin scored three goals in the first period and threw some punches in a second-period melee as the New York Islanders beat the Rangers, 6-3, Wednesday night.

“It’s the exception for him,� Coach Peter Laviolette said of Yashin’s fighting, “but against the Rangers, you never know what will pop up.�

The game featured 172 minutes in penalties, 113 for the Rangers.

“It’s always a rivalry with them,� said Ranger captain Mark Messier, who returned after missing 11 games with a shoulder injury. “Unfortunately, tonight, by the time we realized we were in one, the game was over.�

Mark Parrish also scored in the first period as the Islanders took an early 4-0 lead to chase Ranger goalie Mike Richter.

The brawls began in the second period and Yashin threw his first punches in nine seasons.

“I didn’t really want to fight, I just went to see what was going on,� Yashin said. “But he pulled my shirt up and sometimes you have to fight back.�

Calgary 4, Detroit 3--Marc Savard scored three goals as the host Flames beat the NHL-leading Red Wings for the third time this season.

Nashville 5, Colorado 2--Scott Hartnell scored two goals as the Predators beat Colorado and ended a six-game unbeaten streak in Denver.

After allowing just four goals in three road games, Colorado has allowed 11 goals in two home losses.

Ottawa 3, Philadelphia 1--Marian Hossa scored the go-ahead goal with 3:39 left and Patrick Lalime made 18 saves as the Senators won at Ottawa.

Jeremy Roenick reached 1,000 career points with a first-period goal for Philadelphia.

Boston 4, Montreal 3--Sean O’Donnell scored 1:16 into overtime as the Bruins recovered from blowing a two-goal lead late in the third period to win at Montreal.

Toronto 6, Atlanta 0--Curtis Joseph made 17 saves for his fourth shutout of the season as six players scored for the Maple Leafs at Atlanta.

Phoenix 3, Florida 1--Radoslav Suchy ended a 30-game scoreless streak and Sean Burke made 41 saves to lead the Coyotes at Sunrise, Fla.

Carolina 3, Tampa Bay 1--The Hurricanes outshot host Tampa Bay, 40-19, to end a seven-game (0-2-5) winless streak.

St. Louis 4, Washington 1--Pavol Demitra scored two goals in a three-goal second period and the Blues ended a three-game losing streak with a victory at Washington.

San Jose 6, Pittsburgh 3--Alexander Korolyuk scored the go-ahead goal and set up another as the Sharks scored four goals in fewer than 18 minutes at Pittsburgh.

New Jersey 3, Chicago 1--Scott Gomez set up goals by new linemates Bobby Holik and Sergei Brylin, and Martin Brodeur had 27 saves as the Devils beat the Blackhawks at East Rutherford, N.J.

Vancouver 2, Edmonton 2--Henrik Sedin scored 8:37 into the third period as the Canucks rallied from a two-goal deficit at Vancouver, Canada.