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Wednesday, Mar. 15 7:30pm ET
Blackhawks rout distracted Leafs | |||||
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BOX SCORE
TORONTO (AP) -- With Bryan Berard in their thoughts, the Toronto Maple Leafs couldn't muster much against the Chicago Blackhawks. The surging Chicago Blackhawks got two goals from Steve Sullivan and beat Toronto 5-2 Wednesday night. Berard, a Toronto defenseman, struck in the face Saturday night by the stick of Ottawa's Marian Hossa, needs exploratory surgery to determine the extent of the injury. Dr. Rob Devenyi, who examined Berard, said "chances are slim, but not impossible" that sight in the eye can be saved. Berard, who is resting at home, was recognized during a break midway through the first period. A video replay of a recent goal flashed across the scoreboard along with a get-well wish. The fans responded with a 1-minute ovation. "That was a nice ovation for him," Toronto forward Garry Valk said. "He's on everyone's minds, but we can't blame it on that every time we lose. We just weren't focused." Toronto players wouldn't admit it, but coach Pat Quinn, the fans and even the opponents recognized the Maple Leafs were distant against the Blackhawks. "Their minds maybe weren't 100 percent there," said Sullivan, a former Toronto player. "It's a very emotional time for them. They lost a great player and a great person in the dressing room. We're hoping and praying for Bryan as are most guys in the NHL. But I'm sure they are thinking about it twice as much." None of the Maple Leafs added protective visors to their helmets for the game, even though some said they were considering it. Forwards Alyn McCauley, Yanic Perreault and Nik Antropov were the only players with half-shields. Moments after the salute to Berard, Chicago center Mark Janssens was hit in the face by a high stick in the face. He was assisted off the ice by trainer Mike Gapski, but was not seriously hurt. Alexei Zhamnov, Michael Nylander and Josef Marha also scored for Chicago, which won its third straight road game and for the seventh time in 10 games. The Blackhawks trailing San Jose by 11 points for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference with 12 games remaining. Kevyn Adams and Steve Thomas scored for Toronto, which had won five straight but couldn't top the Blackhawks, who moved out of last place in the Central Division. "That's not an excuse," Adams said of Berard's injury. "That's not what this team is about. We're all praying for him, but that's no excuse not to play hard. We have to play hard, that's what he wants." Zhamnov opened the scoring at 6:27 of the first period, snapping the puck from the faceoff circle over the glove of Glenn Healy. Tony Amonte recorded his 300th assist on the play. Nylander made it 2-0 at 14:54 and Sullivan scored at 2:10 of the second off passes from Nylander and Blair Atcheynum. Adams ended Jocelyn Thibault's shutout bid when he scored on a second effort from his stomach at 11:59 of the second. Healy stopped 21 of 26 shots, while Thibault made 30 saves. | ALSO SEE NHL Scoreboard Chicago Clubhouse Toronto Clubhouse Leafs' Berard requires more surgery on eye
RECAPS Dallas 3 New Jersey 2
Chicago 5 AUDIO/VIDEO   Alexei Zhamnov scores in a rout.avi: 778 k RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1   | |||||