Flyers Blunt Sabre Attack: 2-0

Philadelphia increased its Atlantic Division lead to three points over New Jersey. Keith Primeau and Eric Desjardins scored second-period goals, and Daymond Langkow and Mark Recchi each had two assists for the Flyers.

Cechmanek, who entered with a league-leading 2.02 goals- against-average, stopped 26 shots as the Flyers cooled off the Sabres. Buffalo had won two straight and six of seven.

It was the third time this season that Cechmanek, a first-year goalie, got the best of Hasek ? whom he backed up on the gold medal-winning Czech National team in the 1998 Olympics. Cechmanek shut out the Sabres for his first NHL victory on Nov.4, and won again at Buffalo on Nov. 22.

Hasek played brilliantly in a losing cause, making a number of acrobatic stops among his 29 saves. He had won his last four road starts and had allowed only five goals in that span.

Buffalo`s best scoring opportunities came late in the first period when Flyers defenseman Chris Therien slapped away a breakaway attempt by Vladimir Tsyplakov, and midway through the second when Erik Rasmussen hit the crossbar. Cechmanek also denied Curtis Brown from in close with 2:47 left.

Primeau scored his team-leading 28th goal after taking a pass from behind the net from Daymond Langkow at 3:58 of the second period.

Desjardins made it 2-0 about 10 minutes later when his shot hit the skate of Buffalo defenseman Alexei Zhitnik and dribbled between Hasek`s pads.

Game notes D Mark Howe, who played for Philadelphia from 1982 to 1992, was elected to the Flyers Hall of Fame. ... The Flyers have an eight-game home unbeaten streak (5-0-3) against the Sabres. Buffalo hasn`t win in Philadelphia since 1997. ... Miroslav Satan, who leads the Sabres with 52 points, had his six game scoring string snapped. He had 11 points during that streak. ... Buffalo, which leads the NHL in penalty killing, has killed off 36 of 37 attempts in the last 11 road games. The Sabres stopped three Philadelphia power plays. ... Cechmanek has started 11 straight games, and 23 of 25.

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Author: 6 ABC - Action News (AP)