Messier passes legend Howe

Messier has hit five goals this season

Mark Messier hit two goals to take him past Gordie Howe into second place on the NHL career points list as the New York Rangers beat Dallas 3-0.

Messier tied with NHL legend Howe with a goal in the second period, and surpassed him by shooting into an empty net with 4.7 seconds left for his 1,851st point.

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 leads the all-time list with 2,857 points.

Messier's linemate Matthew Barnaby also scored in the second period, while Jussi Markkanen made 34 saves for his first win of the season and sixth career shut-out.

Now aged 42, Messier, a 16-time All-Star, is in his 25th NHL season - his 10th in New York.

Dainius Zubrus scored twice and Robert Lang had a goal and two assists as Washington defeated Tampa Bay 5-1, ending their eight-game unbeaten streak.

Capitals goalie Olaf Kolzig made 41 saves in the first meeting between the teams since Tampa Bay won last season's Eastern Conference quarter-finals.

Jaromir Jagr and Jeff Halpern also scored for the Caps, who halted a six-game road losing skid.

Keith Tkachuk scored on a 3-on-1 break with 31 seconds left in overtime to give St Louis a 2-1 victory over Anaheim.

Ducks netminder Jean-Sebastian Giguere kept the Blues at bay until Doug Weight scored on his own rebound with 5:19 left.

Anaheim's Sandis Ozolinsh had earlier scored his first goal of the season in the second period.