Flyers Lose to Coyotes

Keith Tkachuk wasn`t expected to play because of a mild groin strain. The Philadelphia Flyers probably wished he hadn`t.

Tkachuk had two of Phoenix`s three power-play goals, and Mike Sullivan and Juha Ylonen each scored short-handed as the Coyotes beat the Flyers 6-3 Saturday night.

Landon Wilson also scored for Phoenix (3-1-0), which sealed the win on Jyrki Lumme`s empty-net goal with 12 seconds left.

The Coyotes are 3-0 at home after a 32-save effort from goalie Sean Burke.

"It`s working for us right now," Tkachuk said of the Coyotes` power play, which last season was at just 11.9 percent. "Guys like (Shane) Doan and (Joe) Juneau are taking shots on the net. We`re creating traffic in front and it`s going in. To be successful, you have to put a few bodies in front of the net. If we keep doing that, we`ll be fine."

The Coyotes have converted 7 of 22 (31 percent) power-play chances this season. "We`re keeping it simple," Coyotes coach Bob Francis said. "We get it up and over, shoot and we get a goal. When you get on the power play and get results, your confidence rises."

Rick Tocchet, Keith Primeau and Simon Gagne scored for the Flyers, 0-3-1 since opening the season with a 6-3 win over Vancouver.

"Early on the penalty kill, we had as many chances as they did, but theirs went in," Flyers coach Craig Ramsey said. "They got two in a row and they were knocked out of the air. Those are the kind that will kill you."

Ylonen`s breakaway goal 9:28 into the third period put Phoenix ahead 5-1 as he beat Philadelphia goalie Brian Boucher.

But the Flyers closed to 5-3 when Primeau flipped in a rebound with 8:45 to play and Gagne blasted in a shot off the crossbar during a power play less than two minutes later.

Philadelphia pulled Boucher for an extra skater during a power-play for a 6-on-4 advantage, but Lumme scored with 12 seconds remaining.

Tkachuk, who sat out Thursday night`s 2-1 loss at San Jose with the groin injury, scored on two tip-ins _ at 13:09 of the first period and with two seconds left in the second. Wilson opened the scoring with a deflection at 8:58 of the first.

Sullivan flipped in a rebound after another Ylonen breakaway to make it 3-0 just 31 seconds into the second period.

Tocchet got the Flyers on the board at 8:20 of the second period on a power play. Andy Delmore fired a shot from the point that bounced off Tocchet`s pants and into the net.

Game notes
The win was the first for the Coyotes at home over the Flyers in five tries since the franchise relocated from Winnipeg. Philadelphia gave up just two power-play goals in 12 chances in its first four games. The Flyers were without forwards John LeClair and Mark Recchi. LeClair missed his third straight game with back spasms, while Recchi is out until at least Monday with a possible concussion and a foot injury.

Courtesy Associated Press. Copyright 2000. All Rights Reserved.

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Author: AP