Dvorak, Kovalev hit milestones

Radek Dvorak played only two full seasons and parts of two others for the Rangers, but the immensely likable 33-year-old became the Panthers’ all-time leader in games played on Nov. 12, passing Robert Svehla at 573.

Perhaps not the greatest honor, considering Dvorak was a 19-year-old rookie when Florida had its one moment in the NHL sun, reaching the Stanley Cup final in 1995-96. Still, an impressive honor for a guy who is approaching 1,100 games played, almost all with a smile on his face.

And he did score 31 goals for the Rangers in 2000-01 — one of just eight 30-goal scorers for the Rangers since 2000.

Alex Kovalev won a Cup with the Rangers, and he’s been back for a brief and unimpressive stay in 2003-04. But Kovalev recorded his 1,000th NHL point on Monday, just the third Russian player to do so in the NHL, along with Sergei Fedorov and Alex Mogilny.

Statlines: Czeching line

Dvorak played his 1,073rd game on Friday against the Rangers. He’s fifth all-time in NHL games by a Czech-born player:

1,394 - Stan Mikita
1,314 - Bobby Holik
1,273 - Jaromir Jagr
1,252 - Roman Hamrlik*
1,073 - Radek Dvorak*

* active