Flyers Lose in Final Overtime Seconds

PHILADELPHIA – February 12, 2002 — Michael Peca saw a loose puck and clear space ahead of him, and wasn't about to let this chance slip away. Peca's short-handed goal with 8.7 seconds left in overtime lifted the New York Islanders to a 1-0 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday night in the last game for both teams before the 12-day Olympic break. "I had a chance about 30 seconds earlier and didn't make a play," said Peca, who leads the NHL with nine short-handed points and is tied for second with Buffalo's Miroslav Satan with five short-handed goals. "Fortunately, they didn't make a play on their end and I had fresher legs than their guy." The Flyers got their eighth power play of the game on a delay-of-game penalty against Garth Snow with 1:56 left. But Peca picked up a loose puck, skated past Simon Gagne down the right side, and lifted a shot that hit Roman Cechmanek's pads and trickled behind him.

Snow stopped 25 shots for his third shutout against his former teammates. He made a pad save on a blast from the point by John LeClair late in the second period, and another impressive stop on Gagne from close range seconds later.

"It's an easy game to get up for," said Snow, who improved to 3-5 with three shutouts against Philadelphia.

New York had a four-minute power play in the last five minutes of regulation, but managed just three shots. But the Islanders capitalized with their league-leading 16th short-handed goal.

The Flyers were 0-for-8 on the power play, including 0-4 in the first 10 minutes. Philadelphia now is 4-for-43 with the man-advantage over the last 14 games.

"Everyone is trying to be too cute instead of having the courage to take it to the net and shoot it," Flyers coach Bill Barber said.

Jeremy Roenick didn't quite agree with his coach.

"Get to the net? We have to shoot the puck," he said. "We have to work to get open and shoot the puck. What's the use of getting to the net if you don't shoot."

The Islanders' best chance in regulation came on a 2-on-1 midway through the first, but Shawn Bates flubbed a one-timer.

After a terrific start, the Islanders are in second place in the Atlantic Division, eight points behind the division-leading Flyers.

"It was a huge game for the organization," Islanders coach Peter Laviolette said. "The guys did what they had to do against a good team. We get fired up to play Philadelphia."

Notes: Flyers LW Ruslan Fedotenko scored Monday night in Ukraine's 5-2 victory over Switzerland in an Olympic qualifying game, returned to Philadelphia to play against the Islanders and was to go back to Salt Lake City for Ukraine's game against France on Wednesday. ... Snow had 33 saves in a 2-0 victory at Philadelphia on Dec. 6. Both teams had a scoreless tie last season. ... The Islanders are 16-10-2-1 on the road. ... Philadelphia's eight power plays tied a season-high. ... The Islanders didn't get a shot in the third period until Roman Hamrlik took one with 8:03 left. ... Flyers captain Keith Primeau got a double-minor for high-sticking Islanders D Adrian Aucoin with 5:33 left. ... New York was 0-for-6 on the power play. ... Seven Flyers and five Islanders are going to the Olympics. ... The Flyers had won four of six and 12 of 17.

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Author: 6 ABC - AP