Chelios Helps Chicago Take Advantage, 2-1

Chris Chelios scored the tiebreaking goal during a two-man advantage late in the second period Thursday night, lifting the Chicago Blackhawks to a 2-1 victory over the San Jose Sharks at Chicago.

Bernie Nicholls scored the other goal for Chicago and Jeff Hackett stopped 20 shots to beat his former team as the Blackhawks improved to 13-3-3 overall and 8-2-1 at home since Dec. 17.

Chris Terreri made 18 saves, many sensational, but San Jose still had its losing streak stretched to four games. Kevin Miller scored for the Sharks.

Detroit 4, Ottawa 2--The Senators spent a second consecutive night playing well for new Coach Jacques Martin, but again came up empty at Ottawa, as the Red Wings won their sixth consecutive game.

The loss was Ottawa’s 11th in a row, the second since Martin took the reins from fired Coach Dave Allison on Wednesday.

Chris Osgood had to be very sharp in the Detroit net, with many of his 35 saves made at point-blank range. Steve Yzerman led the Red Wings with a goal and an assist, and Paul Coffey, Tim Taylor and Keith Primeau also scored.

Alexandre Daigle and Tom Chorske scored for the Senators, who outshot Detroit, 37-35.

Boston 4, Tampa Bay 3--Sandy Moger scored with 1:36 remaining in the third period to snap a tie and lift the Bruins at Boston.

Boston had taken a 3-2 lead at 4:59 of the third period when Todd Elik scored his 100th career goal on a power play. But Roman Hamrlik answered with his ninth goal of the season, also on a power play, at 10:43 of the third period.

New Jersey 3, Washington 1--Martin Brodeur continued his domination of the Capitals by stopping 19 shots and assisting on the game-winning goal to lead the Devils at East Rutherford, N.J.

Bobby Holik, Stephane Richer and Steve Thomas scored as New Jersey won its second game in a row after the All-Star break and helped the seemingly tireless Brodeur stretch his lifetime record to 7-0-1 against the Capitals.

Montreal 6, Florida 2--Martin Rucinsky scored three goals at Miami for his first career hat trick, highlighting the productive night for the Montreal players involved in last month’s Patrick Roy trade.

The Canadiens dealt Roy, their six-time all-star goaltender, to Colorado for Rucinsky, right-winger Andrei Kovalenko and goalie Jocelyn Thibault.

Kovalenko had two assists against the Panthers and Thibault improved his record to 8-4-1.

Vancouver 2, Colorado 2--Roman Oksiuta and Cliff Ronning scored third-period goals to back the goaltending of Corey Hirsch and help the Canucks gain a tie at Denver.

Hirsch had 45 saves, weathering a 22-shot barrage in the second period during which he gave up just one goal. Mike Keane and Alexei Gusarov had given Colorado a 2-0 lead after two periods.

NHL Notes

Ottawa, holding the league’s worst record, acquired defenseman Janne Laukkanen from the Colorado Avalanche for a prospect.