Shanahan’s Four Goals Lead Red Wings

Brendan Shanahan practically shrugged about the first four-goal game of his career.

“Some great passes,” he said after the Detroit Red Wings scored three times on power plays in a 5-2 home victory Thursday night over the Calgary Flames. “You look at all my goals, it was basically me shooting off the set up.”

Shanahan, who has 27 for the season, picked up two power-play goals in the second period and scored twice more in the third. He has six goals and four assists in his last six games.

“It’s nice when Shanny’s shooting the puck the way he is,” said Red Wing defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom, who had a goal and set up two of Shanahan’s goals.

“We were moving the puck and taking the shots that were there. He seems to find the opening to get his shots off for one-timers. He’s deadly, especially with Homer [Tomas Holmstrom] screening in front of the net.”

It was the first four-goal performance by a Red Wing since Sergei Fedorov did it against the Kings on Feb. 12, 1995.

“Tonight exposed some areas we have to get better at,” said Calgary Coach Greg Gilbert, who was coaching his second game after taking over from the fired Don Hay.

Carolina 3, Washington 0--Jeff O’Neill scored two power-play goals as the Hurricanes kept their faint division title hopes alive with a victory over the Capitals at Washington.

O’Neill got his 34th and 35th goals, and Rod Brind’Amour scored his 17th as the Hurricanes ended a three-game losing streak. They moved within 13 points of the first-place Capitals in the Southeast Division.

Washington was shut out for the second consecutive game at home.

Boston 2, Vancouver 2--Byron Dafoe returned from an injury to stop 21 shots and Joe Thornton scored his 30th goal in the Bruins’ tie with the Canucks at Boston.

It was the first time the teams played each other since Marty McSorley whacked Donald Brashear with his stick in Vancouver on Feb. 21, 2000, earning a one-year suspension. Brashear assisted on Brendan Morrison’s game-tying goal 1:50 into the third period.

Philadelphia 3, Minnesota 0--Roman Cechmanek earned his league-leading ninth shutout by stopping just 15 shots as the Flyers won at Philadelphia.

Tampa Bay 3, Toronto 2--Fredrik Modin scored for the first time in 10 games to lift the Lightning past the Maple Leafs at Tampa, Fla.

Chicago 3, Nashville 2--Tony Amonte and Michael Nylander scored 20 seconds apart early in the third period at Chicago to help the Blackhawks end a three-game winless streak.

Around the League

Teemu Selanne plans to practice today with San Jose for the first time since joining the team in a trade last week. Selanne, who has 26 goals and 59 points this season, had minor knee surgery shortly after the trade March 5 in which the Sharks acquired him from the Mighty Ducks for winger Jeff Friesen and goalie Steve Shields. . . . Atlanta defenseman Chris Tamer signed a three-year contract with the team. . . . Buffalo defenseman Richard Smehlik will miss up to two weeks with a rib cartilage injury.