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Wednesday, Oct. 6 10:30pm ET
Blackhawks can't stop Canucks' Mogilny | |||||
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BOX SCORE
VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) -- After preparing to be the hero with a two-goal performance, it almost turned completely around for Alexander Mogilny on Wednesday night. "It's like you're 6 years old and they put you in the corner. You feel very bad. That's how I felt," said Mogilny, describing what it was like sitting in the penalty box serving a two-minute penalty for playing with an illegal stick with the game on the line. "It was very unfortunate. I apologized to all my teammates." Mogilny's teammates came to the rescue, as the Canucks hung on for a 5-4 win over the Chicago Blackhawks. Trailing 5-4 with 6:35 left in the game, Blackhawks coach Lorne Molleken asked the officials to measure the curve of Mogilny's stick, which proved to be illegal. Chicago got two shots off on the power play but failed to tie the game. Although the Blackhawks were sure that Mogilny used the same stick all night, including on the two goals he scored, Mogilny claimed innocence. "Oh, no, no, no. I always change my sticks," said Mogilny. Said Molleken afterward: "He used that stick the whole game." Even Canuck coach Marc Crawford admitted afterward that referee Don Koharski said the measurement wasn't even close. Markus Naslund, Harry York and rookie Artem Chubarov also scored for the Canucks who opened the season 2-0 for the first time since 1992, and for only the fifth time in their 30-year history. Tony Amonte had four assists while Alex Zhamnov had a goal and two assists for the Blackhawks, who lost their second straight. Doug Zmolek, Wendel Clark and rookie Steve McCarthy also scored for Chicago. "Now we know what we have to work on and be ready for the next game," said Zhamnov. "I think we made a good step today after the first game. We just have to keep going in the same way. We have to understand what kind of mistakes we made and be ready for the next game." Kevin Weekes stopped 16 shots to earn his second career victory for Vancouver. Less than three minutes after Clark tied the game 3-3, Mogilny put the Canucks ahead for good by scoring on a short-handed breakaway at 5:55 of the third period after a clearing pass by Murray Baron. Chubarov, with his first career NHL goal, sealed the victory at the 7:43 mark, chipping a shot in off the crossbar. Jocelyn Thibault, who allowed four goals in 32 minutes of Monday's 7-1 loss to San Jose, gave up five goals on 33 shots to the Canucks. The Blackhawks were missing tough guys Bob Probert and Dave Manson, both suspended earlier in the day after their involvement in Monday's brawl with the Sharks. Probert was suspended for four games after striking San Jose goalie Steve Shields with his stick. Manson was issued a three-game ban after grabbing Shields from the bench. To fill their spots, the Blackhawks recalled Chris Herperger and, from the injured list, activated Ed Olczyk (sore back), who played in his 999th career NHL game. | ALSO SEE NHL Scoreboard Chicago Clubhouse Vancouver Clubhouse Blackhawks' Probert, Manson suspended for attack on Shields
RECAPS Florida 4 Los Angeles 2
Vancouver 5 AUDIO/VIDEO   Artem Chubarov's first NHL goal is a game-winner.avi: 836 k RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1 Steve McCarthy's first career goal wasn't enough.avi: 515 k RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1   | |||||