Blackhawks looking like playoff contenders following awful start

Ken Rappoport

Monday, March 16, 1998 | 9:03 a.m.

After looking like they were going to bury themselves at the start of this season, the Chicago Blackhawks are suddenly thinking playoffs.

"We just have to keep plugging away. We believe we can make the playoffs and can do something once we are there," said Chicago coach Craig Hartsburg following Sunday night's 8-4 victory over the Florida Panthers.

The Blackhawks moved into undisputed possession of the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference, two points over San Jose, with 16 games to go. They are 25-23-11 since an 0-7-0 start that matched the worst in their history, set in the 1947-48 season.

"Every point is so big for us right now," said Chicago's Eric Daze, who scored four goals to lead the rout at the Miami Arena.

Elsewhere, it was Buffalo 3, Pittsburgh 0; Carolina 4, Edmonton 1; and Anaheim 5, Colorado 3.

Daze had two of his goals in a six-goal first period as the Blackhawks handed the Panthers their franchise-worst ninth straight defeat.

The goals were the most ever allowed in a period in Florida's five-year history. The eight goals were the most by Chicago since an 8-4 win over Los Angeles on March 11, 1996.

John Vanbiesbrouck, who has been rumored to be on the trading block, gave up all six first-period goals on 18 Chicago shots. He was replaced by rookie Kevin Weekes to start the second period.

In addition to Daze, Jeff Shantz, Jean-Yves Leroux, Tony Amonte and Alexei Zhamnov scored in the first period.

"This is definitely a low point," said Vanbiesbrouck, who just two years ago led the Panthers to the Stanley Cup Finals. "Your play speaks for you and it's pretty obvious that all fingers are pointing at me and I understand that. Sometimes you have to cut your losses and move on."

Sabres 3, Penguins 0

At Buffalo, Dominik Hasek stopped 22 shots for his 10th shutout.

Michael Peca had two goals and one assist for the Sabres, who were involved in a difficult game against Penguins goaltender Tom Barrasso before breaking it open in the final 13 minutes. Wayne Primeau's goal 6:48 into the third period broke a scoreless tie before Peca scored his two.

Hasek was clearly the difference. The Penguins had no fewer than six good scoring opportunities foiled by last year's most valuable player, who leads the NHL in shutouts.

Hurricanes 4, Oilers 1

Sami Kapanen got his second hat trick in as many games against Edmonton, helping Carolina to a victory that ended the Hurricanes' seven-game winless drought at home.

Kapanen, whose only other career hat trick came in the Hurricanes' Nov. 12 victory in Edmonton, boosted his team-leading goal count to 24. The Hurricanes won for the fifth time in seven games and halted the Oilers' best winning streak of the season at three.

Martin Gelinas added a goal for the Hurricanes, who went ahead by scoring 63 seconds apart into the second period. Carolina got its first victory at the Greensboro Coliseum since Jan. 5, snapping an 0-5-2 slump.

Scott Fraser scored for Edmonton, which was coming off back-to-back shutouts.

Mighty Ducks 5, Avalanche 3

Rookies Frank Banham and Matt Cullen scored power-play goals and Tomas Sandstrom ended a 34-game scoring drought as Anaheim snapped a seven-game losing streak with a victory over visiting Colorado.

It was the second time in 28 games the Ducks have scored twice with the man advantage. They had only one goal in 29 power plays over their previous six games and entered the game with the NHL's second-worst power play (31 for 299).

Sean Pronger also scored, Scott Young added an empty-netter and Teemu Selanne set up three goals for the Ducks. Anaheim's Mikhail Shtalenkov made 18 saves and surrendered goals by Valery Kamensky, Uwe Krupp and rookie Josef Marha.