Avalanche Top Oilers 5-4 in Shootout

Joe Sakic forced overtime by scoring with 5.9 seconds left in regulation, and then added the decisive tally in a shootout as the Colorado Avalanche strengthened their playoff position with a 5-4 win over the Edmonton Oilers on Friday night.

Wojtek Wolski and Milan Hejduk also scored in the shootout for Colorado, which pulled even with Calgary for sixth in the Western Conference playoff race with 90 points.

Tom Gilbert had a goal and an assist, and Dwyane Roloson made 32 saves for the Oilers, who, with 84 points, are two points behind Nashville. The Predators passed Vancouver and moved into eighth place in the West.

The Avalanche pulled Jose Theodore …

Art exhibition

Camerton: An autumn exhibition and sale of paintings by TimsburyArt Group will take place in the gallery at Bath Central Library.

It will be launched at noon on Monday until Saturday, …

Top of the world

DaimlerChrysler applies its advanced structural plastic molding technology to the 2001 Jeep Wrangler hardtop. Class-A body parts will be next.

If a thousand-mile journey begins with a single step, it follows that the dawn of high-volume injection molded car bodies could begin with the production of 5,000 Jeep Wrangler hardtops. Or at least that's the thinking at DaimlerChrysler. Currently, DC is on schedule for the 2001 launch of a thermoplastic hardtop option for its enduring, offroad icon. And from what engineers involved with the program have told AI, it's only the beginning.

"Introducing injection molded plastic body parts, one piece at a time, is our strategy," says …

Portis leads Redskins over Eagles

A few of the Washington Redskins were walking off the field, high-fiving, hugging and celebrating another road victory when they looked up at disgruntled fans and gave them another reason to pout.

"There's a new Beast of the East," players shouted.

That's no exaggeration.

Clinton Portis ran for 145 yards and one touchdown, wide receiver Antwaan Randle El threw a TD pass and the Redskins beat the Philadelphia Eagles 23-17 on Sunday.

Washington (4-1) has made it through the first five games under new coach Jim Zorn better than anyone expected. The Redskins went to Dallas last week and handed the Cowboys their first loss, 26-24. …

We Think

Every day Gov. Blagojevich does not resign is another day he shows his contempt for the people of the State of Illinois. But a close look at the allegations against him reveal why, unfortunately, he may stick it out as governor as long as he can.

Here are three top reasons Gov. Blagojevich may insist on remaining Gov. Blagojevich, even if the allegations against him are true.

1. Lucre

Our governor appears to be the type of fellow who can never have enough cash. That's the inescapable conclusion to be gained from the transcripts of the secret recordings federal agents made of him.

He bemoans that he's stuck in the governor's job for two more years simply …

Mayor sees no City Council setback // Two independents join prickly Shiller

Mayor Daley on Wednesday shrugged off suggestions he suffered apolitical setback in aldermanic run-off elections, even though hisrubber-stamp City Council now has two more independents.

New aldermen Leslie Hairston in the 5th Ward and Ted Thomas inthe 15th Ward join re-elected Ald. Helen Shiller (46th) as possiblevoices of dissent. Thomas, chief of ACORN, is expected to use hisnew position to push for an expanded living wage ordinance.

The Daley forces targeted Shiller for defeat and managed toforce her into a run-off. But the effort to remove the biggest thornin the mayor's side - and the only alderman to play the role ofprosecutor during Council budget hearings …

Oil settles lower on economic data

Oil prices fell on Thursday after the government offered fresh signs of slower economic growth. Here's how energy contracts traded.

On the New York Mercantile Exchange:

Crude fell $1.09 to settle at $100.23 per barrel.

Gasoline gained 2.07 cents to …