Rest Pays Off for Capitals

Washington Capital Coach Ron Wilson had the perfect cure for a team mentally tired and on a six-game winless streak--two days off.

Wilson’s strategy of a little rest and relaxation for the struggling Capitals paid off Saturday night as Steve Konowalchuk scored with 3:50 left for a 2-1 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes at Greensboro, N.C.

“I try to remember what it was like to be a player--you don’t feel good and you’re tired of getting whipped,” Wilson said of his team’s recent struggles after starting with the second best mark in franchise history.

Konowalchuk, who had come out of the penalty box minutes earlier, scored just his third goal in 36 games and his first in 18. He took a pass from a falling down Richard Zednik in the slot and one-timed it past Hurricane goaltender Sean Burke.

Chicago 5, Vancouver 0--Dimitri Nabokov, the Blackhawks’ first-round draft pick in 1995, scored two power-play goals in his NHL debut to lead the Blackhawks over the Oilers at Vancouver.

Chicago goaltender Jeff Hackett stopped only 20 shots for the shutout.

The game was delayed for 10 minutes early in the second period when referee Rob Schick was accidentally checked and, snapping his head back, fell into the boards. Schick, who had been wearing a helmet, suffered a slight concussion and was taken to hospital.

New York Rangers 2, Tampa Bay 2--The Rangers controlled the game at Tampa, Fla., but could gain only a tie because of Daren Puppa’s goaltending.

Puppa had 39 saves and the Lightning had a 2-1 lead before the Rangers’ Tim Sweeney scored late in the third period to tie it.

Wayne Gretzky, who snapped a four-game pointless streak with an assist, has not scored a goal in eight games.

Philadelphia 2, Florida 0--Flyer goalie Garth Snow was rarely tested as the stopped 14 shots for a shutout of the Panthers at Philadelphia.

It was the third shutout of Snow’s career and his first since blanking the New York Islanders, 5-0, on Dec. 19, 1996.

“The key is having guys playing in front of you limiting the number of quality scoring chances, not the number of shots,” Snow said.

Montreal 4, Ottawa 1--Brian Savage, playing his second successive game on the top line with Saku Koivu and Mark Recchi, scored two goals as the Canadiens beat the Senators at Montreal.

Savage came into the game without a goal in his previous nine games, and had only six goals in 28 games this season.

St. Louis 4, Pittsburgh 1--Grant Fuhr made 31 saves and Terry Yake had a goal and two assists at St. Louis as the Blues ended the Penguins’ six-game unbeaten streak.

The Blues were without leading scorer Brett Hull, who two days earlier was kneed in the thigh by New Jersey’s Bobby Holik.

The Penguins’ Jaromir Jagr was limited to three shots.

Dallas 2, Edmonton 1--Pat Verbeek scored a power-play goal at 1:07 of overtime to give the Stars a victory at Edmonton.

Bryan Marchment was serving a penalty for tripping as Verbeek, stationed in front of the Edmonton net, deflected a shot from the point by Sergei Zubov past goalie Curtis Joseph for his 14th goal of the season.

New York Islanders 4, Boston 3--Todd Bertuzzi’s power-play goal with 14 seconds remaining in the second period carried the Islanders to a victory at Boston.

Toronto 3, Phoenix 1--Wendel Clark scored two goals to lead the Maple Leafs over the Coyotes at Phoenix.

NHL Notes

John Spano, the Dallas businessman who will be sentenced to as long as five years in prison for fraudulently buying the New York Islanders, was reimbursed for about $500,000 in expenses during the seven months he ran the day-to-day operations of the Islanders, according to expense records reviewed by Bloomberg News. His bills included $1,200-a-night stays in a penthouse hotel suite, a $1,400 bar tab, an $1,100 room-service charge, $6,000 worth of limousine rides and $30,000 in jet fuel, according to his expense records. A team spokesman wouldn’t comment on whether the Islanders are trying to recoup the money.