Blackhawks End Capitals’ Streak

Suffering from flu, Steve Sullivan didn’t feel very well when took his afternoon nap. When he awoke, he was ready to stop a 12-game unbeaten streak.

Sullivan scored two goals Tuesday night, including the winner on a breakaway with 13:43 to play, as the Chicago Blackhawks defeated the Washington Capitals, 3-2, at Washington.

“I woke up from my nap and felt a lot better,� said Sullivan, whose goals gave him 31 for the season. “I slept from 1:30 to 4, a little long for me. I’m a little tired, but overall I’m not going to complain.�

Eric Daze also scored for the Blackhawks, who won their third in a row.

“This was one of the best games we played the whole year, in every part of the game, defensively, offensively,� Coach Alpo Suhonen said. “We earned these two points, and I guess it shows that we’re going to at least try at the last moment to get to the playoffs.�

Dmitri Khristich and Adam Oates scored for the Capitals, who had several streaks end.

The 12-game unbeaten run matched the longest in the NHL this season and was the team’s longest since 1984. A 10-game streak with at least one power-play goal was also stopped, as was a seven-game winning streak in one-goal games.

At least the Capitals can claim the best monthly record in franchise history, a 9-1-1 February mark that created a buzz about a team that usually struggles for headlines. Its downbeat end brought a sarcastic sendoff from Coach Ron Wilson.

“It’s not the end of the world,� he said. “Now I guess everybody will get back to normal around here. ‘Forget the Caps, they lost. We’re not going to root for them anymore.’ �

New Jersey 4, New York Islanders 1--Alexander Mogilny’s team-leading 32nd goal broke a tie late in the second period and Turner Stevenson scored two goals at Uniondale, N.Y.

Montreal 3, Philadelphia 2--Oleg Petrov had a goal and an assist and Jose Theodore stopped 29 shots at Philadelphia to help the Canadiens end a six-game losing streak.

Buffalo 4, Ottawa 1--Jean-Pierre Dumont scored two of Buffalo’s three second-period goals and Dominik Hasek made 29 saves at Ottawa.

Boston 7, Phoenix 4--Lee Goren and Jarno Kultanen each scored his first NHL goal, and John Grahame won a battle of backup goalies at Boston.

Atlanta 1, Carolina 1--Steve Staios’ wrist shot with 2:11 to play gave the Thrashers a tie at Atlanta.

Around the League

Bryan Berard of the Toronto Maple Leafs is ending his attempt to return to hockey because he is unable to meet the league’s minimum vision requirement after being hit in the eye with a stick last season. Agent Tom Laidlaw said the 23-year-old defenseman plans to accept the league’s $6 million disability insurance payment for a career-ending injury once the one-year waiting period expires March 11. . . . Goalie Damian Rhodes of the Atlanta Thrashers is expected to be sidelined for at least three weeks because of a strained right groin. . . . The Buffalo Sabres said they have begun listening to offers to trade center Michael Peca, a restricted free agent who has held out all season.