NHL ROUNDUP : Near-Record 8 Penalties for Chelios

Hartford’s Pat Verbeek had three goals and an assist in the Whalers’ 6-2 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks in a fight-marred game Thursday night at Chicago.

A brawl stopped play at 3:19 of the final period when Chris Chelios knocked down Brian Propp, then joined a fight between Adam Burt and Brian Noonan.

Chelios was assessed eight penalties, a club record.

Chelios, ejected along with Noonan and Burt, received a 10-minute misconduct, two game misconducts, two minutes for instigating and five minutes for fighting. He had three penalties earlier.

The NHL record for penalties was established March 11, 1979, by Randy Holt of the Kings. Playing against Philadelphia, King was assessed nine penalties, drawing 67 minutes, in one altercation. Holt was handed one minor, three majors, two 10-minute misconducts and three game misconducts.

Tampa Bay 3, Pittsburgh 2--Goalie Daren Puppa made 25 saves and John Tucker scored with 1:40 at St. Petersburg, Fla., to play as the Lightning won for the first time this season before 20,132 at the ThunderDome.

Florida 5, Ottawa 4--Rookie Rob Niedermayer’s first goal early in the third period at Miami boosted the expansion Panthers to their first home victory.

Rookie Alexandre Daigle, the first overall pick in the 1993 draft, had a goal and an assist for Ottawa.

Calgary 2, San Jose 1--In the first regular-season game at the $155-million San Jose Arena, Joe Nieuwendyk’s power-play goal in the second period broke a 1-1 tie and helped the Flames improve to 4-0.