Nieuwendyk Scores 500th Goal

Archived from 2002-03 season.

Joe Nieuwendyk became the 32nd player in NHL history to score 500 goals Friday night when he beat Kevin Weekes in the first period of New Jersey's 2-1 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes.

"I got the puck, and I'll keep the stick and the game sheet for my little guy," Nieuwendyk said. "That's something he'll be able to keep forever."

Nieuwendyk passed up a chance to get the milestone score into an empty net last Friday night at Florida.

"That was the nicest 500th I ever saw," coach Pat Burns said. "Usually they are garbage goals."

The goal was just the sixth for Nieuwendyk, who spent most of his first 16 NHL seasons with Calgary and Dallas before being traded to New Jersey late last season.

Martin Brodeur also stopped 34 shots for his NHL-leading 24th victory as the Devils moved 14 games over .500.

"We hung on in the third period, but that's why the goaltender gets paid so much and that's why he's the best in the league," Burns said.

Contact The HockeyNut - Front Page - Archive