Oates Packs Immediate Punch

Adam Oates and his new Philadelphia Flyers teammates are getting along splendidly. John LeClair scored on a rebound of a shot by Oates to lift the Flyers to a 2-1 victory over the Anaheim Mighty Ducks on Thursday night and snap a five-game winless streak.

Oates, acquired from Washington for goalie Maxime Ouellet and three draft picks on Tuesday, picked up his NHL-leading 58th assist.

Asked afterward about playing with LeClair and Mark Recchi, who also assisted on the game-winner, Oates said, "It's unbelievable. I can't believe it. Two special hockey players, really good hockey players."

Recchi said Oates' presence will be felt even more once all the Flyers are healthy. Their two top centers were injured within minutes of each other against Tampa Bay on Tuesday: Keith Primeau (bruised ribs) and Jeremy Roenick (torn knee ligament).

"Oates really sees the ice very well," Recchi said. "It's going to be difficult once all our centermen are back. Teams are going to have a hard time matching up against our four centers. I don't thing there's a team in the league with four centers as talented."

Jiri Dopita, a first-year player from the Czech Republic, is the Flyers' other center.

"Adam moves the puck so well, he passes so well, and he views the ice so well," Philadelphia coach Bill Barber said. "That is why he is left alone and that is going to open up things for us. He is well respected because if you try and defend him and be aggressive on him, he can make those plays that can hurt you."

The Flyers also snapped a five-game winless streak at home (0-4-1).

Steve Shields had 21 saves for the Mighty Ducks, who had ended a nine-game winless string in Detroit on Tuesday. Afterward, the Anaheim goalie expressed his frustration.

"It's no fun," he said. "We're not in the playoffs and we lose a lot of one-goal games. It's like this every night. I just go out and try to put the wins and losses out of my mind."

Anaheim's Jeff Friesen scored unassisted on a breakaway at 11:33 of the first period, beating goalie Brian Boucher, who stopped 15 shots.

Simon Gagne tied it at 16:07 of the second with a wrist shot for his 30th goal, the first time he has reached that milestone.

After Shields stopped Oates' shot, LeClair crashed in and hammered in the rebound at 12:26 of the third. Notes: Anaheim was unbeaten in its last five games against Philadelphia (3-0-2). ... Mike Condon, the Flyers' video replay judge for the past 11 years, died of a heart attack at his home in Philadelphia on Thursday morning. He was 43. ... The Flyers, who have scored the fewest power-play goals in the NHL (33), were 0-for-3. ... LeClair tied Eric Lindros for seventh place on Philadelphia's career list with his 290th goal.

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Author: 6 ABC-AP