Red Wings' Datsyuk earns 900th NHL point

DETROIT - Detroit Red Wings center Pavel Datsyuk joined an exclusive club on Sunday.
He had two goals and an assist in a 6-5 win against the Boston Bruins to surpass 900 points in his career.

Datsyuk, 37 and in his 14th season, is the sixth player to reach 900 points with Detroit. The others five - Gordie Howe, Steve Yzerman, Alex Delvecchio. Nicklas Lidstrom and Sergei Fedorov - are all in the Hockey Hall of Fame. He is the 107th player all-time to reach the mark.
"Yes it means a lot. I just hope I keep skating," Datsyuk said.

Datsyuk has 309 goals and 593 assists for 902 points in 928 career games.
"For me it's a big stepping stone, but it [doesn't] happen without lots of good players I am playing with," he said. "Lots of helping and supporting, and lots of teaching me, too. Lots of [people] giving me advice. I appreciate for all of them."
One of those is Red Wings captain Henrik Zetterberg, who has been Datsyuk's teammate and often his linemate for 13 seasons.
"Yeah, it was good to see," said Zetterberg who is also close friends with Datsyuk. "If he wasn't as good of a two-way player and cared that much about defensive end of his play, of his game, he'd probably have a lot more points."
Detroit coach Jeff Blashill agreed with Zetterberg who also had two goals and an assist Sunday, including the game winner.
"I feel pretty fortunate to be on the bench when he gets his 900th," Blashill said. "He's a special, special athlete. If he cheated offensively, he'd have 1,800 points. But he doesn't, he's a winner. I mean that. He's an absolute winner. Again, I feel real fortunate to be on the bench with him."

Datsyuk, who missed the first six weeks of the season recovering from right ankle surgery in June, has five goals and four assists in his past five games to give him 11 goals and 33 points in 41 games this season.
Darren Helm, who scored two goals Sunday, has played on Datsyuk's line at times since last season.
"I don't think I was part of too many (of Datsyuk's points)," Helm said. "But obviously to be part of this team and part of his line a few times, it's definitely special to see him get that milestone. He's a great player and deserves everything he gets."
Datsyuk has won the Stanley Cup twice, the Lady Byng Trophy four times (most gentlemanly player) and the Selke Trophy (top defensive forward) three times.