Zhamnov Pays Quick Dividend

Around the NHL

Even in his first game with the Chicago Blackhawks, even though he was uncomfortable with his new surroundings and new teammates, Alexei Zhamnov was an attention-grabber.

“He gets the puck and everybody on the ice is looking at him,” Tony Amonte said Sunday after his tiebreaking goal was set up by Zhamnov in Chicago’s 2-1 victory over the visiting Los Angeles Kings.

“He can beat one guy pretty easily and that creates a lot of space on the ice for the rest of us. It also creates a lot of excitement.”

Acquired in an Aug. 16 trade for popular Jeremy Roenick and signed Friday to a five-year, $15 million contract, Zhamnov is considered a skilled playmaker. But his assist on Amonte’s goal at 2:27 of the third period, which snapped a scoreless tie was more a result of luck - and Amonte’s hard work.

Zhamnov skated into the Kings’ end but lost the puck when checked by Jaroslav Modry. The puck rolled forward, and Amonte got behind Mattias Norstrom, gained control and stuffed it between Stephane Fiset’s pads at 2:27 of the third period.

“Sometimes they’re going to be classic tic-tac-toe passes,” Blackhawks coach Craig Hartsburg said. “Other times, they’re going to just end up falling off a stick. But he’s in the right place at the right time to make that play.”

Said Zhamnov: “Of course, it’s lucky. But you never know what’s going to happen. That luck is good for us.”

And the luck was bad for the Kings, whose three-game winning streak was broken.

On the ice

The Devils’ Bobby Carpenter played in his 1,000th NHL game in New Jersey’s 6-2 loss to Hartford on Saturday night. He is only the fourth American player to reach the 1,000-game plateau, joining Neal Broten, Dave Christian and Joey Mullen.