Jagr hits milestone in Devils’ rout

Nabokov gives up career goal No. 700 for ageless wonder

Now that Jaromir Jagr has 700 NHL goals in the bank, the future Hockey Hall of Famer is already setting his sights on his next big achievement.

Only six players have ever scored more. So yes, this is a significant marker to reach.

“Maybe not for Wayne Gretzky, but for the rest of us it’s a very big number — 800 is a little bit better than 700,” he said.

Jagr scored in the second period of the New Jersey Devils’ 6-1 victory against the New York Islanders Saturday at Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, N.Y.

Through bits of laughter, Jagr suggested 800 goals is attainable, as well as Gretzky’s record 894. With tongue firmly in cheek, Jagr, 42, said he could get to the first number in two years and Gretzky’s mark in four.

So far, he has no plans for the special puck that got past goalie Evgeni Nabokov.

“I might save the 800th one, but I don’t know what I am going to do with the 700th,” he said with a smile.

Jagr’s tally sparked New Jersey’s four-goal second period, and Martin Brodeur earned the win in his first start in more than a month.

Jagr gave the Devils a 2-0 lead early in the second, and Ryane Clowe, Marek Zidlicky and Mark Fayne followed in rapid succession. The four goals came in a span of 4:36 in the first 8:07 of the second.

Adam Henrique opened the scoring with a power-play goal at 5:00 of the first. New Jersey needed only 12 shots to net its first four goals and 16 total.

“The game went away from us pretty quickly. We deflated after they scored two power-play goals,” Nabokov said. “This is part of the business. You got knocked down, but you have to get up again and you have to do the job.

Other games

Flyers 4, Rangers 2: Wayne Simmonds had a goal and an assist to lead host Philadelphia past New York.

Capitals 4, Bruins 2: Alex Ovechkin collected his 800th career point and raised his leagueleading total to 43 goals with a couple of power-play scores, leading Washington to a win at Boston.

Jets 3, Predators 1: Olli Jokinen, Andrew Ladd and Devin Setoguchi scored and Ondrej Pavelec stopped 39 shots as Winnipeg won at Nashville.

Kings 3, Hurricanes 1: Alec Martinez scored the tiebreaking goal on a power play with 11:45 to play as host Los Angeles beat Carolina.

Lightning 4, Stars 2: Martin St. Louis scored two goals for the second consecutive game, leading Tampa Bay to a win at Dallas.

Blue Jackets 6, Panthers 3: Artem Anisimov scored a shorthanded goal late in the second period and Columbus’ special teams provided four goals in a win against visiting Florida.

Canadiens 4, Maple Leafs 3: Max Pacioretty scored his second goal of the game on a power play 3:28 into overtime to lead host Montreal past Toronto.

Note

Pat LaFontaine resigned as president of hockey operations for the Buffalo Sabres.