Predators Feast on Flyers

The Nashville Predators didn`t care that their victory over Philadelphia was the team`s first against the Flyers. They just wanted to win.

Tomas Vokoun made one of his 27 saves on Philly`s Peter White.

"We weren`t thinking about the streak," said Ronning, who got the Predators off and running with a goal midway through the first period. "We just wanted to get out of here with a win."

Tom Fitzgerald, who set up Valicevic`s game-winner, agreed. "We really didn`t care too much about Philadelphia`s streak," Fitzgerald said. "We were all playing with confidence and just didn`t want this one to slip away. This should be a good learning experience for us."

Vitali Yachmenev added an empty-net goal with 12.7 seconds left for Nashville, which also snapped a five game (0-2-2-1) winless streak.

"We were really moving the puck well in the first period," Ronning said. "But we probably got a little defensive after that. Philadelphia really came at us hard from the second period on."

Luke Richardson scored the only goal for the Flyers, who had their four game (2-0-2) unbeaten string broken.

"You have to be ready every night," Richardson said of the Flyers, who earned a tie at New Jersey on Wednesday. "Tonight we were a little lackadaisical. After the great effort last night, I guess we thought it would just happen."

Nashville goalie Tomas Vokoun, winless in two previous starts against the Flyers with a 6.06 goals-against average, had 27 saves.

Vokoun has allowed two goals or fewer in four of his five starts this season that started with him as the backup to Mike Dunham, who is out with a sprained left knee.

"We came out flat tonight," Flyers defenseman Daniel McGillis said. "We weren`t playing our defensive zone and we were giving up that neutral zone. I thought they took us apart pretty good tonight."

Ronning rifled a slap shot through a screen from just inside the blue line that bounced off the arm of Philadelphia goalie Brian Boucher at 10:43 of the first period. It was his fifth goal of the season.

Valicevic made it 2-0 at 13:03 with his first goal of the season. Boucher made the initial save on a shot by Fitzgerald but the puck kicked out to Valicevic in the crease who put it past the goalie`s stick side.

Richardson brought the Flyers to within 2-1 at 1:30 of the second period. With the teams skating four-on-four just six seconds after Nashville`s Greg Classen was called for hooking, Richardson took the puck off the boards and shoveled it high over Vokoun.

Valicevic made it 2-0 at 13:03 with his first goal. Boucher made the initial save on a shot by Tom Fitzgerald, but the puck was kicked into the crease to Valicevic, who put it past the goalie`s stick side.

Richardson brought the Flyers within 2-1 at 1:30 of the second. With the teams skating four-on-four, just six seconds after Nashville`s Greg Classen was called for hooking, Richardson took the puck off the boards and shoveled it high over Vokoun.

Game notes
Philadelphia forward John LeClair, who underwent disc surgery on Oct. 21, skated for the second straight day on Thursday and reported that he "really feels good." LeClair`s rehabilitation is about a week ahead of schedule. ... The Flyers failed on five power plays and are 0-for-18 in their last four games. ... Philadelphia outscored Nashville 13-2 in its four previous games with the Predators. ... Kevin Stevens of the Flyers played in his 800th NHL game. ... The Predators, who entered averaging only 12 penalty minutes per game -- the fewest in the NHL -- were assessed 10 minutes.

(Courtesy Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. Copyright 2000).

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Author: AP