Andreychuk Scores Twice, Gets Traded

Dave Andreychuk, who has struggled all season for the Maple Leafs, finally put together a strong game Wednesday night, scoring two goals and getting an assist in a 3-3 tie with the Winnipeg Jets at Toronto.

Thanks a lot, said Cliff Fletcher, Toronto’s general manger. You’ve been traded to the New Jersey Devils.

It was the cap to a day of wheeling and dealing by Fletcher, who is trying to jump-start the Maple Leafs, who are in seventh place in the Western Conference and are 1-8-2 in their last 11 games.

Earlier, he traded three players and a draft pick to the New York Islanders for former Toronto captain Wendel Clark, All-Star defenseman Mathieu Schneider and a junior prospect.

With the Maple Leaf salary structure out of kilter, Andreychuk, 14-year veteran, had to go.

Andreychuk, in his third season with Toronto, had scored his 19th and 20th goals, but before he had a chance to shower, Fletcher informed him he’d been traded for a second-round 1996 draft pick and either a fourth-rounder in 1998 or a third-rounder in 1999.

“When you get a lot of veterans, the way the payroll is going, you could probably understand why they made the deal,” said Doug Gilmour, who scored the other Toronto goal.

OTHER GAMES

Johan Garpenlov scored his second goal of the game with 1:45 to play as struggling Florida gained a 3-3 tie at New York against the Rangers. . . . Tom Chorske, Dave Archibald and Daniel Alfredsson scored first-period goals for Ottawa in a 4-1 victory at home over Dallas. . . . Brendan Shanahan scored with 44 seconds to play to lift the Whalers to a 3-2 victory over Pittsburgh at Hartford. . . . Montreal’s Valeri Bure scored on a rebound with 1:29 to play to give the Canadiens a 1-1 tie at New Jersey. . . . Rod Brind’Amour’s wraparound goal in the second period snapped Philadelphia’s 0-for-28 power-play drought as the Flyers salvaged a 1-1 tie with Tampa Bay at home. . . . David Oliver scored two goals and had an assist for Edmonton in an 8-3 victory at San Jose.

NHL Notes

New Jersey right wing John MacLean underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right knee and will be sidelined seven to 10 days. . . . Devil defenseman Shawn Chambers broke a hand in a game against Montreal and will be sidelined for four weeks.