Blackhawks Reel as Crowd Reaches a Low

Chris Simon scored with 11 minutes 54 seconds to play, converting a perfect pass from Peter Bondra, and Olaf Kolzig made 30 saves, as the Washington Capitals kept the Chicago Blackhawks winless with a 2-0 victory Wednesday night. The game was attended by 14,240, the smallest regular-season crowd in the United Center’s four seasons in Chicago.

The Blackhawks’ 0-6 start is their worst in 30 years. The only longer season-opening losing streak in the team’s 72-year history was seven games in 1947.

Calle Johansson added an empty-net goal with 30 seconds left. Washington improved to 6-1, matching the best start in the franchise’s 24-year history.

Toronto 4, Detroit 3--Felix Potvin stopped 30 shots and Mathieu Schneider had three assists at Detroit, as the Maple Leafs handed the Red Wings (5-1-1) their first loss of the season.

Darby Hendrickson, Wendel Clark, Igor Korolev and Alyn McCauley scored goals for Toronto, with McCauley’s goal the game-winner.

Ottawa 5, N.Y. Rangers 1--Daniel Alfredsson had two assists in his return to the lineup, helping the Senators record a season-high goal total at Kanata, Ontario.

Alfredsson was playing his first game of the season after signing a four-year, $10-million contract last weekend. Ottawa center Alexei Yashin contributed his first two goals of the season.

Colorado 6, Edmonton 2--Peter Forsberg had a career-high six points on a goal and five assists and defenseman Sandis Ozolinsh added a goal and two assists at Edmonton, as the Avalanche (5-0-2) extended their unbeaten streak.

Florida 2, Tampa Bay 1--Dave Nemirovsky had a goal and assisted on the winning goal by Dave Gagner, and John Vanbiesbrouck stopped 24 shots to lift the Panthers to a victory at Miami.

Carolina 3, Buffalo 3--Geoff Sanderson scored a power-play goal with 1:59 left in regulation to give the Hurricanes a tie at Greensboro, N.C. Derek Plante scored two goals for Buffalo and Sabre goalie Dominik Hasek made 34 saves.

Montreal 1, Pittsburgh 1--Garry Valk scored his first goal of the season with 1:14 left in the first period and Ken Wregget made 34 saves as the Penguins and Canadiens skated to a tie at Montreal. Sebastien Bordeleau scored for Montreal.

NHL Notes

Edmonton Oiler defenseman Kevin Lowe was suspended by the league for three games and fined $1,000 for high-sticking in a game Sunday. . . . Pittsburgh Penguin center Petr Nedved has backed off his demand for a five-year, $18.5-million contract, saying he will accept a deal for $6 million over two years. The Penguins had offered $14 million over five years to the restricted free agent. . . . New York Sports Ventures moved a step closer to purchasing the New York Islanders from John O. Pickett Jr. by signing a formal contract to purchase the team in Uniondale, N.Y. NHL approval is expected around the end of the year.