Hawks, Dumont's 3 Topple Rangers

When the Chicago Blackhawks acquired Jean-Pierre Dumont in a trade with the New York Islanders last May, the 20-year-old right wing was touted as a natural goal scorer.

Dumont showed signs of living up to the billing when he scored three goals to lead the Blackhawks to a 6-2 victory over the New York Rangers on Thursday night.

"He doesn't have the hardest shot and he's not the quickest skater on the team," said Chicago's Tony Amonte of his first-year teammate. "But he's always there around the net. He's a flat-out goal scorer and it's nice to see him have a night like tonight."

Two of Dumont's goals came in a four-goal first period for Chicago.

"Since I was called up, I feel more comfortable on the ice," said Dumont, who had skated for Portland of the AHL until March 2. "I'm playing with confidence. I'll never forget this."

Dumont scored twice, while Alex Zhanmov and Jean-Yves Leroux each connected once, during a 6:41 span in the first period that saw the Blackhawks build a 4-0 lead. Dumont completed his hat trick on a breakaway with 6.1 seconds remaining in the third period after taking a long lead pass from Anders Eriksson.

Dumont had scored five goals in 23 games before his Wednesday night explosion.

Dave Manson also had a goal in the third period for the Blackhawks, who extended their home winning streak to seven games and overall winning streak to three. Chicag's home victory streak is its longest since moving to the United Center in the abbreviated 1994-95 NHL season.

Meanwhile, the Blackhawks improved to 10-6-4 under coach Lorne Molleken. Molleken officially was named the team's head coach Thursday after serving as interim coach since February 22. He replaced Dirk Graham, who was fired on that date.

John MacLean and Eric Lacroix scored for the Rangers, who have lost three of their last four games. New York, like Chicago, has been eliminated from the playoffs for the second straight season.

"It's the worst game we've played all year," Rangers coach John Muckler said. "There wasn't much emotion all game long."

One of the few emotional moments for New York -- at least for Rangers center Wayne Gretzky -- came during the third period. In response to a brief third-period videoboard tribute to Gretzky, the United Center crowd saluted him with a standing ovation.

"It was real nice, one of the nicer moments in my career," said Gretzky, who seemed moved by the applause. "My first NHL game was here in Chicago. It was a night I will never forget."

Thursday night was one the Rangers might prefer to forget.

The Blackhawks jumped to a 4-1 lead in a wide-open first period, victimizing Mike Richter.

Zhamnov opened the scoring during a Chicago power play at 10:36 by swatting in a rebound of Dumont's attempt from the side of the net. Leroux made it 2-0 with a goal 39 seconds later when he tipped in Boris Mironov's drive from the point.

Dumont scored his first goal of the night at 14:06 to cap a Chicago rush. Dumont was credited with his second of the game when Brad Brown's high shot glanced off the rookie forward and past Richter at 17:17.

MacLean's power-play goal with 29 seconds left in the period made it 4-1.

Lacroix had the only goal of the second period at 13:21 when he slipped past the Chicago defense and put a shot past Blackhawks goaltender Jocelyn Thibault.

Manson made it 5-2 at 2:38 of the third period when he slipped his own rebound under Richter from the edge of the crease. Dumont then completed the scoring in the final seconds.

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