Flyers Earn Tie Against Colorado

In his first week with the Philadelphia Flyers, rookie coach Bill Barber tried to instill an ethic that includes a willingness to jump in front of a speeding puck, even it means losing a few teeth.

A little luck doesn`t hurt, either.

The Flyers, playing about 15 hours after arriving in Denver, impressed their coach again Wednesday night as Simon Gagne`s disputed goal with eight seconds left in regulation gave them a 3-3 tie against the Colorado Avalanche.

"I couldn`t be any happier, and I expressed that to them," said Barber, 1-0-2 since taking over for Craig Ramsay, who was fired on Sunday. "It`s very enjoyable to coach and watch a team play that hard. Flyers play with heart. We can`t have anything less."

While the Flyers were happy to gain a point against the NHL`s top team, the Avalanche found themselves grumbling about the merits of instant replay for the second straight game.

Colorado had a goal disallowed Monday night against Tampa Bay, even though replays showed the puck hit the net just below the crossbar. Gagne`s goal was allowed to stand after the Avalanche argued he guided the puck into the net with his left hand.

"Twice in two games," said Colorado coach Bob Hartley, his voice hoarse from screaming. "Maybe we should put it on the JumboTron and have the fans vote. It makes you wonder, but I guess it`s a game of mistakes."

With Philadelphia frantically trying to tie the game in the final seconds, Gagne deflected a centering pass from Daymond Langkow. The puck bounced off his left glove and squirted between Patrick Roy`s legs, prompting the Colorado goalie to charge out of the crease in protest.

After a quick review, the referees allowed the goal to stand and then confirmed the decision after a second, longer review. The NHL rulebook states that a goal can be scored off a player`s hand as long as there is no deliberate forward motion.

"I never was worried," Barber said. "[Keith] Primeau came to me right off the bat and said there was nothing to worry about. They can look at any angle they want."

Said Gagne: "It just hit my thumb. My hand never left my stick, so I think it was a good goal. It was a pretty lucky goal, but that`s a goal."

Roy and the Avalanche had a different interpretation. "He turned his hand to put it in the right direction. He also made a forward motion," Roy said. "It is tough not to win. It is just the person upstairs didn`t make the right call. That`s all."

The Avalanche, playing the second of six straight home games, were forced to settle for their second tie in a row. They gave up a goal in the final three minutes against Tampa Bay.

"I am sure they wanted to make the right call," Colorado captain Joe Sakic said. "On Monday, it was pretty obvious that someone in charge upstairs didn`t know what he was doing."

Philadelphia had a power play for the final 1:14 of overtime, but could not capitalize against Roy, who finished with 28 saves.

Milan Hejduk gave Colorado a 3-2 lead midway through the third when he scored on his own rebound. Defensemen Greg de Vries and Eric Messier added unlikely goals to help the Avalanche extend their home unbeaten streak to 11 games (8-0-3).

Eric Desjardins and Jason Williams also scored for Philadelphia, and Langkow had three assists.

Notes:
Colorado`s longest home unbeaten streak of 15 games (13-0-2) came in 1995 _ the season before the franchise moved from Quebec to Denver. ... Desjardins` goal came on Philadelphia`s first shot of the game. ... Flyers D Michal Sykora (chest laceration) and F Rick Tocchet (stomach virus) each missed their second straight game. ... The Avalanche are 8-0-13 in their last 21 overtime games. ... Philadelphia has not defeated the Colorado franchise on the road since October 1993. ... The teams scored 26 seconds apart early in the third.

Copyright 2000 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.

Article continues below

---

advertisement

---

Author: AP