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NHL briefs

Compiled from Times wires

© St. Petersburg Times, published March 16, 2001

Hurricanes throttle Capitals 3-0

WASHINGTON -- Jeff O'Neill scored two power-play goals as the Carolina Hurricanes kept their faint division title hopes alive with a 3-0 victory Thursday night over the Capitals.

O'Neill got his 34th and 35th goals, and Rod Brind'Amour scored his 17th as the Hurricanes broke a three-game losing streak. They moved within 13 points of the first-place Capitals in the Southeast Division. The teams meet twice more in the next 15 days.

"We're not spending any time watching the Washington Capitals or looking at the standings," coach Paul Maurice said. "That's not our race. Our race is with Boston."

The Hurricanes are three points ahead of the Bruins for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

The Capitals, who lost 2-0 at home to Anaheim two days earlier, looked out of synch in their first game with Tuesday's deadline-day acquisitions of Trevor Linden, Dainius Zubrus and Jason Marshall.

Linden joined top scorer Peter Bondra's line, and Zubrus teamed with assist specialist Adam Oates. But passes were off-target and defensive assignments were blown in one of Washington's worst performances of the season. Even the power play, ranked No. 1 in the NHL, was 0-for-8 and failed to score during a five-on-three advantage that lasted 1:14.

When the shots were on target, Arturs Irbe was up to the task. Irbe made 25 saves for his fifth shutout of the season and the 29th of his career.

"This wasn't about making a statement," Irbe said. "It was about getting points, because very clearly we have wasted some games lately and lost three in a row. We couldn't go any further."

RED WINGS 5, FLAMES 2: Brendan Shanahan had the first four-goal game of his career and added an assist for host Detroit.

The Flames are 0-5-1 in their past six.

Shanahan scored twice on the power play in the second and once short-handed and once even strength in the third.

The Red Wings wiped out a 1-0 deficit with three power-play goals in the second. Nicklas Lidstrom, who had a goal and two assists, and Shanahan scored 1:24 apart.

FLYERS 3, WILD 0: Roman Cechmanek got his league-leading ninth shutout by stopping 15 shots for host Philadelphia.

Cechmanek, in his first season, was forced to save only three shots in the second period. An outstanding goaltender in the Czech Republic the past six years, Cechmanek has started all 21 home games since Bill Barber was hired as coach of the Flyers, and has a 16-3-2 record in those games.

The Flyers put 36 shots on goal. Michal Sykora had a goal and assist. Rick Tocchet and Dean McAmmond scored power-play goals for the Flyers, who won their second straight game, moving within three points of first-place New Jersey in the Atlantic.

CANUCKS 2, BRUINS 2 (OT): Byron Dafoe returned from an injury to stop 21 shots and Joe Thornton scored his 30th goal as host Boston earned a point despite allowing a late goal.

Vancouver's Brendan Morrison tied the score 1:50 into the third period. Ex-Lightning Dan Cloutier stopped 20 shots for the Canucks.

Brian Rolston and Bill Guerin had a two-on-none breakaway in the final 40 seconds, but Guerin's stick broke on his shot and the puck went wide of the net.

The Canucks have gone into overtime four straight games.

BLACKHAWKS 3, PREDATORS 2: Tony Amonte and Michael Nylander scored 20 seconds apart early in the third as host Chicago ended a three-game winless streak.

Chicago's Eric Daze also scored to reach the 30-goal mark for the third time in six seasons. He has 15 goals and 19 points in his past 18 games.

Chicago is 10 points behind eighth-place Phoenix for the final Western Conference playoff berth with 11 games remaining.

SABRES: Defenseman Richard Smehlik (rib cartilage injury), one of Buffalo's top penalty killers, will miss up to two weeks.

SHARKS: Teemu Selanne plans to practice with the team today for the first time since he was traded. San Jose is winless in eight of its past nine.

THRASHERS: Defenseman Chris Tamer signed a three-year contract. He has played every game this season, tying a career high with four goals.

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