Daze Scores Twice for Chicago, Which Holds on to Tie Oilers

A 3-3 tie against the tired Edmonton Oilers wasn’t what the Blackhawks wanted in Chicago on Sunday night.

But it could have been worse. The Blackhawks held on for a point despite allowing Edmonton ample scoring chances--including a shot by Andrei Kovalenko that hit a post 2:10 into overtime.

“We did good things offensively, but did not play well defensively,” said Chicago winger Eric Daze, who scored his eighth and ninth goals. “We couldn’t keep our focus for 60 minutes.”

Greg deVries opened the scoring for Edmonton--playing its fifth game in eight nights--with a screened power-play goal from the left point at 4:15 of the first period. But even-strength scores by Daze and Keith Carney 43 seconds apart midway through the opening period gave Chicago a 2-1 lead after 20 minutes.

Mats Lindgren made it 2-2 at 2:06 of the second period, connecting from the right circle, and Daze and Kovalenko traded scores to set up overtime.

“Our biggest problem is we can’t get everyone going at the same time,” Chicago Coach Craig Hartsburg said.

Florida 5, Washington 4--The Panthers got two goals each from Steve Washburn and Dave Gagner in a win in Miami.

John Vanbiesbrouck had 24 saves to improve to 7-9-3 and move past Mike Liut into 15th place in all-time victories with 295.

It was only the second victory for Florida since General Manager Bryan Murray replaced Doug MacLean as coach Nov. 24.

“The whole theme today is we’ve got to believe that we can win games in tight spots,” Murray said. “What an example today was.”

With 2:53 left, Washburn flipped the winning score past Bill Ranford.

Notes

Right wing John MacLean, the New Jersey Devils’ leader in career points, was acquired by the San Jose Sharks in a four-player deal. San Jose also obtained defenseman Ken Sutton from New Jersey in return for defenseman Doug Bodger and left wing Dody Wood.