COLUMBUS, Ohio — They're not building a trophy case for the Stanley Cup just yet. But fans in this city more familiar with touchdowns than slapshots are going crazy over the expansion Blue Jackets and their three-game winning streak.

        Besides captivating Columbus, the suddenly potent new club — one win away from tying the NHL mark for consecutive victories by a first-year team — also has attracted the attention of the hockey establishment.

        “They play with a strong passion, a strong sense of purpose,” Dallas Stars coach Ken Hitchcock said Tuesday night. “If you don't have the same purpose, you're not going to beat them.”

        Hitchcock was shaking his head over a 3-2 loss to the Blue Jackets, the same team that had looked extremely expansion-like in a 4-0 lashing Nov.1.

        Since then, the Blue Jackets have found their stride offensively and have played solid defense in front of goalkeeper Ron Tugnutt.

        The latest victory pushed Columbus past Chicago and out of last place in the Western Conference's Central Division. BRUINS TRADE: The Boston Bruins obtained Bill Guerin, the NHL's third-leading goal scorer, and sent holdout Anson Carter to the Edmonton Oilers in a trade of right wings Wednesday night.

        The Oilers also received Boston's second-round draft choice in 2001, a choice of switching first-rounders with the Bruins in 2001 or 2002, and future considerations.

        • Flyers 2, Maple Leafs 1, OT, at Toronto — Mark Recchi returned to the lineup and scored his first goal of the season in overtime for the Flyers.

        • Rangers 3, Wild 2, at St.Paul, Minn. — Theo Fleury scored his fourth short-handed goal of the season to start a three-goal spurt in the second period as New York rallied.

        • Red Wings 4, Sharks 1, at Detroit — Mathieu Dandenault scored his first two goals of the season to lead the Red Wings.

        • Stars 2, Sabres 2, at Buffalo — Brett Hull again scored the critical goal as the Stars settled for a tie. • Thrashers 1, Predators 0, at Atlanta — Milan Hnilicka stopped all 37 Nashville shots for his first career shutout.

        • Panthers 4, Hurricanes 1, at Raleigh, N.C. — Florida's Greg Adams scored in his 1,000th career game.
       

Ducks fall 5-2
        NORFOLK, Va. - Josef Marha scored two goals, leading the Norfolk Admirals Wednesday in the American Hockey League.
        Cincinnati ....... 0  1  1-2
       Norfolk ....... 1  3  1-5

        First period: Nor-Marha 4 (Henderson, Downey), 19:23.

        Second period: Nor-Calder 7 (Wilford, Bell), 4:01. 3. Cin-Young 6 (Butsayev, McDonald), 5:24. Nor-Marha 5 (Von Ark), 7:38 (ppg). Nor-Bell 5 (Hankinson, Calder), 16:05.

        Third period: Cin-Butsayev 5 (Young, Zinger), 17:27. Nor-Baines 2 (Hankinson), 19:42.

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