Messier, Canucks Beat Ottawa 6-4

March 1, 1998 / 12:31 AM EST / AP

Mark Messier scored two goals and recorded his 1,600th point as the Vancouver Canucks extended their unbeaten streak to five games, rallying for a 6-4 victory over Ottawa on Saturday night.

Pavel Bure also scored two goals, including one on a penalty shot, as the Canucks erupted for four goals in the third period and improved to 4-0-1 in their last five games. They are 6-1-1 in their last eight.

After Messier tied the game 3-3 three minutes into the third period, Pavel Bure gave Vancouver a 4-3 lead 33 seconds later.

Bure took the puck away from Andreas Dackell at the Ottawa blue line, then cut around two defenseman and whipped a backhander that beat Senators goalie Damian Rhodes.

After Dave Scatchard gave Vancouver a 5-3 lead, Bure sealed the victory by beating Rhodes through the legs on a penalty shot with 6:46 left in the game. Bure is now 3-for-3 in penalty-shot opportunities this season, while the Canucks are 4-for-4, with Alexander Mogilny rounding out the penalty-shot scoring.

Referee Don Koharski awarded Bure the penalty shot after he was hauled down from behind by Senators defenseman Jason York.

It was the first time the Canucks won when trailing after two periods, having gone 0-24-2 this season. Vancouver moved out of the Western Conference basement - a point ahead of idle Calgary Flames - for the first time since Dec. 21.

For Ottawa, it was the first time the Senators blew a third-period lead in 51 games (43-0-8), a span that goes back to March 1996.

It was a milestone night for Messier, who became the fourth NHL player to reach the 1,600-point plateau with his first goal of the night at the 13:36 mark of the first period.

Todd Bertuzzi set up the goal, slipping a pass through the crease to Messier. With Rhodes out of position, Messier had an easy time back-handing the puck into the open net, cutting Ottawa's lead to 2-1.

The goal was the 18th of the season for Messier, who entered the night with 1,599 points.

Messier's second goal came on a 2-on-1 break, when he snapped a shot from the right circle.

Messier, who joined the Canucks as a free agent last summer, recorded his 1,000th assist last Jan. 10 and is also six goals from reaching the 600-goal plateau.

Wayne Gretzky is the league's career points leader, currently with 2,764. The two other players to reach the 1,600-point milestone were Gordie Howe, who finished his career with 1,850 points, and Marcel Dionne (1,771).

Bertuzzi also scored, giving him two goals and five assists in four games since joining the Canucks in a trade from the New York Islanders.

Bertuzzi's goal tied the game 2-2 midway through the second period.

Dackell led the Senators with two goals and an assist, while Denny Lambert also scored as Ottawa blew a 2-0 first-period lead.