Blackhawks Get Even With 6-3 Victory

Bob Probert, known more for brawling than scoring, had two of Chicago’s four second-period goals and the Blackhawks evened the Western Conference quarterfinal series at two games each Tuesday with a 6-3 victory over the Colorado Avalanche at Chicago.

Tony Amonte also scored twice for the Blackhawks, who outworked and outskated the defending Stanley Cup champions for the second consecutive game.

The Avalanche, the NHL’s best regular-season team, will try to avoid its first three-game losing streak since December 1995 on Thursday when it hosts Game 5.

Probert, who ranks sixth in league history with 2,653 penalty minutes, had eight goals in 16 playoff games for Detroit in 1988 but went into Tuesday with only three in 44 postseason games since. He had not scored a playoff goal for Chicago, which signed him to a four-year, $6.6-million contract in 1994 despite his history of drug, alcohol and disciplinary problems.

“I’m sure we’ve opened up their eyes,” Probert said. “We lost the first two games and maybe they were a little overconfident, but I’m sure they’re thinking now, ‘Hey, this is a good team we’re up against.’ Now they know they’re in a series.”

Though playing with a sore elbow, it might have been Probert’s best game with the Blackhawks, who were without centers Alex Zhamnov (sprained ankle), Murray Craven (broken jaw) and Brent Sutter (sprained knee), as well as defenseman Steve Smith (sore back).

Dallas 4, Edmonton 3--Brent Gilchrist’s goal 1:53 into the third period broke a tie and the Stars regained home-ice advantage with a victory at Edmonton that tied their Western Conference quarterfinal series, 2-2.

The Stars, who blew a three-goal lead in the final four minutes of regulation and lost in overtime in Game 3, nearly squandered a 4-2 lead in the final 73 seconds Tuesday.

Jamie Langenbrunner scored what proved to be the winning goal with 14:39 left for Dallas, which also received a goal and an assist from Mike Modano. Jason Arnott had a goal and two assists and Ryan Smyth added a goal and an assist for the Oilers.

New York Rangers 4, Florida 3--Esa Tikkanen bounced a shot off the goal-net camera for a score with 3:31 left in overtime to give the Rangers a victory at New York and a 2-1 lead in the series.

Tikkanen’s hard slap shot rang off the inside of the Florida net and caromed out, forcing several minutes of review before the shot was ruled good.

An apparent winning goal for Florida at 2:44 of overtime was waved off when referee Dan Marouelli ruled Scott Mellanby had interfered with New York goaltender Mike Richter.

The Rangers forced overtime when Luc Robitaille scored with 18.9 seconds left in regulation.

St. Louis 4, Detroit 0--Geoff Courtnall scored two goals and Grant Fuhr got his second shutout of the playoffs as the Blues tied the series at two games each with a victory at St. Louis.

The Blues built a commanding lead before play degenerated late and both goalies entered a major brawl with 1:21 to play. The Blues, who had 33 penalty minutes in Game 3, had only 10 in Game 4 before they racked up 75 in the late brawl, which delayed the game more than 10 minutes.

New Jersey 6, Montreal 4--Valeri Zelepukin scored three goals and the Devils moved within one victory of sweeping their first-round Eastern Conference playoff series with a victory at Montreal.

Zelepukin scored twice in the second period and put the Devils ahead, 5-4, at 7:50 of the third on a power play, redirecting a Shawn Chambers pass from the point.

Saku Koivu, who tied the score, 4-4, with his first goal of the playoffs for Montreal at 4:37 of the third period, was serving his fourth minor penalty of the game when Zelepukin scored the go-ahead goal.

Brian Rolston scored short-handed into an empty net with 59 seconds left in the game.