He's No. 2: Jagr Moves Into Second On NHL Points List
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SUNRISE (AP) — Jaromir Jagr moved into the outright No. 2 spot on the NHL career scoring list Thursday night, getting an assist in the Florida Panthers' 3-1 loss to the Boston Bruins.
Jagr got point No. 1,888 to break a tie with Mark Messier. The historic point came with 6:40 left. "I appreciate everything ... over my hockey career, and I thank the fans," Jagr said in a brief ceremony during which he was given a golden stick.
Only Wayne Gretzky, with 2,857 points, has more than Jagr. Aleksander Barkov was credited with the goal that deflected off the 44-year-old Czech star.
In a video, Gretzky offered congratulations. "You play the game the right way," he told Jagr.
The game was stopped for a celebration, and Jagr came onto the ice to accept the commemorative golden stick from the Panthers. He waved to the crowd, got congratulatory stick-taps from both teams, and the game — his 1,663rd in the NHL — resumed.
Frank Vatrano, Patrice Bergeron and David Backes scored for Boston, and Tuukka Rask made 29 saves.
Rask improved to 18-3-1 against Florida, while the Boston is 16-2-1 in its last 19 games with the Panthers.
Vatrano, called up this week from Providence of the AHL, scored in his first game and on his second shot as a Bruin on a wrister from the slot at 2:09 of the second period.
Bergeron followed 3 minutes later with a power-play conversion that beat goalie James Reimer off a perfect feed from Torey Krug, who also assisted on Vatrano's score. It was Bergoneron's fifth goal this season.
After being outshot 12-8 in the first period, the Bruins took control at both ends with a 16-5 advantage in the second en route to a two-goal advantage.
Reimer faced 33 Boston shots in the loss.
Backes scored on an empty-netter with 1:23 remaining to close out the scoring.
Notes: Boston C Dominic Moore played in his 800th game. ... Krug has 10 assists, with two in seven of his last 14 games.
UP NEXT
Bruins: At Carolina on Friday night.
Panthers: Host Detroit on Friday night.
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