NHL PLAYOFFS : Chicago Wins but Faces a Challenge Back Home

Chicago got goals from Joe Murphy, Murray Craven and Jeff Shantz, 31 saves from Ed Belfour and outstanding penalty killing Saturday in winning, 3-1, in Toronto, but there are clouds on the horizon.

The Blackhawks evened their Western Conference playoff series, 2-2, but must overcome their dreaded home-ice advantage.

“It’s pretty weird, pretty bizarre,” said Murphy of the first four games, none of which have been won by a home team.

Chicago took the lead when Bernie Nicholls won a faceoff to the right of Maple Leaf goalie Felix Potvin. Murphy backhanded a shot from the circle. Potvin stuck out his right leg, but the puck struck his skate boot and continued into the net at 13:28.

Calgary 6, San Jose 4--Theoren Fleury completed a hat trick 3:25 into the second period and added an empty-net goal for the Flames, who face the same problems Chicago does in a 2-2 series in which the visitors have won every game.

St. Louis 5, Vancouver 2--Brendan Shanahan scored three goals in a 4:16 span of the second period to lift the Blues, who tied the series, 2-2, at Vancouver.

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NHL Notes

Izzy Asper, a businessman linked to a plan to keep the Jets in Winnipeg, said he’s not buying the team and has only been acting as a community fund-raiser. He also lashed out at the media for giving Winnipeg residents false hope of keeping the Jets from a sale to interests in Minneapolis.