Flyers Go Down In Flames

Marc Savard was benched in his last game by Calgary Flames coach Greg Gilbert. It clearly had the desired effect.

Savard scored the tiebreaking goal with 6:01 left as the Flames snapped an eight-game winless streak Thursday night with a 3-1 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers.

"If you`re not going to work, he`s going to work you and that`s the message he was sending," Savard said of Gilbert`s benching of the Flames top line in the third period of a 4-2 loss to New Jersey. "It`s a good message, and that`s the way it should be.

"Thankfully, we answered tonight with a hard effort."

With the score tied at 1, Jarome Iginla`s initial shot was stopped by Flyers goalie Brian Boucher but he could not control the rebound. Savard was able to backhand it into the net for his 22nd of the season.

It was the first time in 26 games this season (1-20-4-1) Calgary has won when trailing after the first period.

"Marc worked hard tonight no question, everybody did, but we still have to expect more from him," said Gilbert, who earned his first career NHL victory. "Marc has to realize that for him to succeed in this league, he has to be moving all the time and whenever he stands with his feet still, he`s ineffective."

Gilbert is 1-3-1 since taking over for the fired Don Hay.

Former Flyer Ron Sutter scored his first goal of the season and added an assist, and Toni Lydman tallied into an empty net for the Flames.

Rick Tocchet gave Philadelphia a 1-0 lead 9:23 in. The Flyers lost for just the second time in eight games (6-2-0-0) and remain five points behind Atlantic Division-leading New Jersey.

"We should be pretty disappointed because that was one of our worst efforts of the year," Tocchet said.

The Flyers turned in a somewhat lethargic effort against the struggling Flames, getting outshot 24-16 overall and 7-1 in the second period.

It was just the third time in Flyers history they managed just a single shot on goal in a period.

"The way we played tonight, we couldn`t have beaten a minor league team, that`s how bad we were," Tocchet said. "We know Calgary is fighting for jobs, but we`re fighting for first place and these were two points we really wanted tonight."

Philadelphia right wing Mark Recchi failed to record a point for the first time in 12 games. Recchi had six goals and 13 assists during his streak, the third longest in the NHL this season.

"We didn`t have any energy or passion tonight and Calgary did which is the reason we ended up losing," Recchi said. "It`s a very disappointing loss for us and we`ve got a couple of games left on this road trip that we`re going to have to make sure this doesn`t happen again."

Trailing 1-0, Calgary tied it with 6:59 left in the second period. Philadelphia center Derek Plante lost control of the puck in his own end and Sutter pounced on it, firing a low 40-foot slap shot past Boucher.

The unassisted goal was Sutter`s first goal with the Flames since signing with the club Feb. 15.

The Flames lost right wing Jeff Shantz with an undisclosed knee injury in the first period. Trying to check Philadelphia defenseman Luke Richardson along the boards, Shantz fell awkwardly and had to be helped off the ice.

Game notes:
Tocchet`s goal was his 506th point with the Flyers, moving him into a tie with John LeClair for 10th place on the team`s career list. ... Flames captain Dave Lowry returned after missing three games because of a hip injury. ... Calgary is in danger of finishing below .500 at home for just the second time in franchise history. Calgary is 11-15-9-2 at the Pengrowth Saddledome with four home dates remaining.

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Author: 6 ABC - Action News (AP)