NEW YORK — Sean Avery exacted revenge on the Dallas Stars a year after they dumped him, scoring a goal and setting up three others to match his career best with four points in the New York Rangers’ 5-2 victory Wednesday night.

Avery’s stay with the Stars lasted only 23 games into a four-year, $15.5 million contract that he signed before last season after leaving the Rangers as a free agent.

The agitating forward quickly wore out his welcome in Dallas, and was suspended by the NHL in December after making crude comments about his former girlfriends dating other players. He never again played for the Stars, who waived him in February.

Marian Gaborik scored his NHL-leading 28th goal, and Ales Kotalik, Chris Drury and Ryan Callahan also scored for New York, 7-1-2 in its last 10. Brad Richards and Jere Lehtinen scored for Dallas.
Sabres 5, Lightning 3

BUFFALO, N.Y. — Tyler Myers, Jochen Hecht and Clarke MacArthur scored for Buffalo in the first 2:11, and Ryan Miller made 36 saves in his 300th NHL game

Drew Stafford and Jason Pominville also scored to help Buffalo win its fifth straight game, the team’s longest winning streak since a six-game stretch in December 2007. Martin St. Louis, Victor Hedman and Vincent Lecavalier scored for Tampa Bay.

The Sabres’ early burst was the fastest three-goal start in team history.
Flyers 6, Maple Leafs 2

PHILADELPHIA — Danny Briere scored two goals to reach the 500-point plateau and Philadelphia routed Toronto in a fight-filled game.

Danny Syvret, Dan Carcillo, Mike Richards and James van Riemsdyk also scored, Chris Pronger had three assists, and Jeff Carter added two. Nikolai Kulemin and Alexei Ponikarovsky scored for Toronto.
Wild 4, Flames 1

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Eric Belanger scored twice, Kyle Brodziak and Cal Clutterbuck added goals, and Niklas Backstrom made 25 saves for Minnesota.

Minnesota snapped a four-game losing streak and ended Calgary’s winning streak at five. Olli Jokinen scored for the Flames.

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