NHL ROUNDUP : Nordiques Blow Opportunity

The chance to advance was there. Florida had lost, and Quebec, 10 points behind the Panthers in the race for the Eastern Conference’s final playoff spot, was at Ottawa, playing the Senators, a team 22 points out of 25th place in a 26-team league.

Ottawa is 20 points out now. The Nordiques, who had the fourth-best overall record last season, are down and out in the East after a 6-4 loss to the Senators on Wednesday.

“We need three miracles, a little pride and the other teams not to win any games,” said Quebec Coach Pierre Page before launching a scathing critique at his underachieving team.

“There’s no chemistry--no hitting, no board contact, no back-checking, nobody comes to play. They’re all trying to score goals.”

Tampa Bay 3, Buffalo 2--Brian Bradley’s pass went in off Sabre goalie Dominik Hasek’s pad with 1:08 to play in overtime to give the Lightning a victory at Buffalo.

St. Louis 3, Florida 1--Curtis Joseph stopped 27 shots as the Blues won at Miami.

Hartford 3, Chicago 2--Andrew Cassels scored with 1:15 to play in overtime at Hartford as the Whalers broke a four-game losing streak.

Pittsburgh 3, Vancouver 1--Larry Murphy and Greg Hawgood scored first-period goals and Shawn McEachern added one in the third for the Penguins at Vancouver.