Federov Gets His Nickel’s Worth

Around the NHL

After his first five-goal performance in the NHL, Detroit’s Sergei Fedorov remembered something he learned long ago.

“In Russia, my coach would always say, ‘What you did tonight is part of history. Let’s go out and practice in the morning,”’ said Fedorov, who led the Red Wings to a 5-4 overtime victory over Washington on Thursday night. “I don’t want to spoil it by talking all about it.”

Fedorov is the NHL’s first five-goal scorer this season.

“It was just an unusual night,” said Fedorov, who has 12 goals in 11 games after managing only five in his first 25 games. “All of a sudden I scored two goals, and then I was in a mood to score more goals. I’m just a happy kid.”

After scoring twice in the third period to draw Detroit into a 4-4 tie, Fedorov took a pass from Vladimir Konstantinov and wristed it past Capitals goalie Jim Carey at 2:39 of overtime.

St. Louis squandered a 3-0 lead, then Brett Hull scored his second goal of the game with 10:28 left in regulation and the visiting Blues went on to tie Chicago 4-4.

At Uniondale, N.Y., the New York Islanders scored four times in the final period to defeat the New Jersey Devils 4-1 and snap a three-game losing streak.

Mario Lemieux capped a three-goal rally in the third period with his 24th of the season as the Pittsburgh Penguins tied Montreal 3-3, extending the Canadiens’ winless streak to six games (0-4-2.

Belfour trade may be forthcoming

In Chicago, there is speculation that goaltender Ed Belfour could be traded. One rumored destination for the would-be free agent is Tampa Bay, where the Lightning are playing without goalie Daren Puppa (back surgery) for an indefinite period of time.