Was it a goal or wasn`t it?
Right now the Chicago Black Hawks don`t care. The Hawks benefited from a disallowed goal in the third period to beat the Vancouver Canucks 4-2 Tuesday night before 8,833 fans.
With the Canucks pressing on a power play, Steve Tambellini`s wrist shot appeared to bulge the net behind Chicago goalie Bob Sauve at 9:36. The Canucks raised their sticks in celebration of a goal which would have cut the Hawks`
lead to 4-3 and could have changed the games` complexion.
But referee Andy van Hellemond, after consulting the goal judge, waved off the play even though a TV replay appeared to show the puck entering the net and going through the twine.
Tambellini`s phantom goal came just after Barry Pederson cut the Chicago lead to 4-2 at 8:18 of the third period.
”I have no idea if it was in,” said Hawks` coach Bob Pulford, savoring his second win in four matches on a six-game western road swing. ”But I`m very happy it was ruled no goal.”
Two power-play goals in the second period, 47 seconds apart, turned the game in Chicago`s favor, according to Pulford.
”It certainly was the turning point,” he said. ”It gave us life and seemed to get us going.”
The Hawks made life miserable for Canuck goalie Frank Caprice in the second period.
Caprice, making his first start of the season, surrendered four goals on the Hawks` first five shots of the second period. Caprice was replacing Richard Brodeur, who was out of the lineup with the flu.
Three of Chicago`s goals came within a 91-second span starting at 4:08 of the period.
Wayne Presley tied the score at 1-1 after a fine rush by defenseman Marc Bergevin, who carried the puck into the Vancouver zone and fed a pass to Presley, cruising in the slot. Presley beat Caprice with a low wrist shot.
At 4:52, Bob Murray finished off a precise four-way passing effort on a Hawk power play, his slapshot from the top of the faceoff circle beating Caprice again. On another power play, Troy Murray scored from the edge of the crease, catching Caprice moving too slowly to the far side. That put the Hawks in front 3-1 at 5:39.
Catcalls descended upon Caprice when Gary Nylund`s point shot got past the Vancouver goalie at 10:04.
Dave Donnelly just missed adding the Hawks` fifth goal of the period, his slapshot ringing off the post behind Caprice in the final minute.
Goalie Sauve looked sharp for the Hawks, making 13 saves in the middle period, his best stop coming on a close-in shot by Petri Skriko late in the period.
