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.