How awesome is Mark Messier. Not only a great game by him, but an awesome awesome game by Jussi Markkanen posting a shut out
http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=1654326
NEW YORK -- Mark Messier tied and then passed Gordie Howe for second place on the NHL's career points list when he scored a goal early in the second period and then an open-net goal late in the third period of Tuesday night's game between the New York Rangers and the Dallas Stars.
Messier earned his 1,850th and 1,851th points in his 1,691st game. Howe played 1,767 games over 26 NHL seasons. They both trail Wayne Gretzky by 1,007 points.
"I haven't celebrated coming in second too many times in my life," Messier said this week. "But I'll tell you, because of what Gordie has done, for us mere mortals who have played this game, being No. 2 is not so bad."
Messier is in eighth place with 682 goals, tied for third with 1,169 career assists, and second to Howe in games played.
The tying point came 1:37 into the second period against the Stars when Messier rushed to the front of the net and tipped in a shot by Alex Kovalev. The goal, Messier's fifth this season, gave the Rangers a 1-0 lead.
Messier then scored his second goal of the game, to pass Howe, on an open-net goal at the end of the third period, giving the Rangers a 3-0 win.
He has four goals in New York's last four games.
Messier, a 16-time All-Star, skated to the Rangers bench, chased by a spotlight. He received congratulations from his teammates and joined them on the bench.
The goal announcement didn't come until several minutes later during a stoppage of play. When it became clear that the goal was Messier's, the crowd rose and roared its approval as both teams skated to their benches, slapping their sticks on the ice and against the boards.
At the next stoppage, the center-ice video board showed highlights from Messier's career.
Members of Messier's family, including his father, Doug, were in
attendance. Howe's son, Mark, was also at the game. Mark Howe is a scout with the Detroit Red Wings, the team for which his father starred.
Messier, the 42-year-old Rangers captain, is in his 25th season -- 10th in New York. He moved within one point of Howe on Sunday by scoring a goal.
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