Trade Provides Big Dividends for Hurricanes

Newly acquired Martin Gelinas had a goal and an assist, and Kirk McLean, who was also traded over the weekend from Vancouver, stopped 22 of 23 shots as the Carolina Hurricanes defeated the Ottawa Senators, 4-1, Monday night at Greensboro, N.C.

“These guys play their position very well, especially in the defensive zone. They don’t gamble or anything,” said McLean, who gave up a meaningless third-period goal after entering the game with the worst goals-against-average (3.68) in the NHL. “Everybody seemed to be accountable. It was a different game to watch.”

The Hurricanes scored two goals or fewer in 26 of their first 42 games, but tallied four in the second period--the team’s highest-scoring 20-minute span of the season.

Dallas 4, New Jersey 3--Jamie Langenbrunner set up Joe Nieuwendyk’s tying goal with 36 seconds to play and Jere Lehtinen’s goal at 34 seconds of overtime led the Stars to victory at East Rutherford, N.J.

The improbable victory extended the Stars’ unbeaten streak to 7-0-3 and marked the first time in 25 games this season the Devils have lost a game when leading after two periods.

Chicago 1, Calgary 1--Alex Zhamnov scored on a power play late in the second period at Chicago, extending his goal streak to five games and giving the Blackhawks the tie.

Jeff Hackett made 28 saves for the Blackhawks, 4-0-2 in their last six games. Hackett has given up only nine goals in helping Chicago go 5-1-3 since Dec. 17.

NHL Notes

Dallas Star owner Tom Hicks is leading a group bidding to purchase baseball’s Texas Rangers, who are now owned by a group of 28 limited partners, including Texas Gov. George W. Bush. . . . The New York Rangers learned that defenseman Ulf Samuelsson will be sidelined until the All-Star break because of a sprained knee ligament. . . . Chicago Blackhawk center Jeff Shantz separated his left shoulder in Sunday’s game against Detroit and is expected to sit out at least two weeks. . . . Pavel Bure of the Vancouver Canucks and Peter Bondra of the Washington Capitals head the list of 15 players added to the World All-Star team. Bure was one of six Russians added to the squad, along with goalie Nikolai Khabibulin of the Phoenix Coyotes, defensemen Igor Kravchuk of the Ottawa Senators, Sergei Zubov of the Dallas Stars, Dmitri Mironov of the Mighty Ducks, and Colorado Avalanche winger Valeri Kamensky. Also added to the team: Detroit defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom, Toronto center Mats Sundin, Ottawa winger Daniel Alfredsson, Montreal center Saku Koivu, Dallas forward Jere Lehtinen, New Jersey center Bobby Holik, New York Islander winger Ziggy Palffy and Washington goalie Olaf Kolzig.