Flyers Victory Wins Home Ice

Roman Cechmanek -- Dominik Hasek`s former understudy -- made it Czech-mate against his mentor on Sunday.

Cechmanek stopped 36 shots in leading Philadelphia to a 2-1 victory over the Buffalo Sabres, clinching the Flyers fourth place and home-ice advantage between the two postseason first-round opponents.

"It`s good. I`m happy that we win today. It was very tough for us because we wanted to start at home," said Cechmanek who, before this season, was best known as Hasek`s backup on the 1998 gold-medal winning Czech Republic team. "For me, maybe it`s a surprise."

For a first-year NHL player, Cechmanek has been surprising everyone.

Along with winning his 35th game, tying Bernie Parent for sixth-most in franchise history, Cechmanek is 4-0 and allowed only two goals against the Sabres this year.

Asked if those numbers make him better than Hasek, Cechmanek smiled and said, "Maybe." He then added: "It`s not a done season. Now starts a new challenge."

It`s a challenge the Flyers appear to be up to, considering they`ve won five of six previous playoff series against the Sabres -- including a 4-1 series win last year -- and improved to 10-2-2 in their last 14 meetings, including the playoffs.

"I don`t know if it gives us an edge, but it helps our team as far as confidence by winning in this building and playing against a team that`s really hot lately," Philadelphia`s John LeClair said.

While the playoffs are set to begin Wednesday, the NHL had yet to release a schedule for each of the series.

Ruslan Fedetenko broke a 1-1 tie with 7:34 left in regulation, and Derek Plante also scored for the Flyers, coming off Saturday`s come-from-behind 4-3 win over Pittsburgh.

Fedetenko, who also had an assist, scored when he cut across the middle and snapped a hard shot over Hasek`s glove.

Donald Audette scored for the Sabres, who lost for only the fourth time in 14 games. Buffalo, which held the tiebreaking edge with more wins than Philadelphia, needed only a regulation tie to clinch fourth place.

Hasek noted Cechmanek`s play, but was also pleased with the way the Sabres performed, outshooting the Flyers 37-17, and 29-11 over the final two periods.

"He`s a good goalie, no doubt. He beat us four times. He probably played his best hockey against us," said Hasek. "But if we play in the playoffs like we played today, I believe we can win."

Despite the loss, the Sabres finished the season allowing a league-low 184 goals -- three fewer than Dallas -- to claim the Jennings Trophy for the third time, and first since 1984-85.

Cechmanek was sharp the entire game. He twice foiled Doug Gilmour on breakaway opportunities and got a fortunate bounce when Miroslav Satan chipped a shot off the crossbar five minutes into the game.

All the scoring came in the third, with Plante -- a former Sabre -- flipping in his own rebound 57 seconds into the frame to give Philadelphia a 1-0 lead.

Audette tied it on the power-play less than six minutes later, sweeping in a loose rebound.

Notes:
Philadelphia, meeting Buffalo in the playoffs for the fifth time in seven years, holds a 21-10 edge over the Sabres. ... Sunday`s game was broadcast on four TV networks, including ESPN and Canada`s CTV Sportsnet. ... Between periods, Flyers general manager Bob Clarke noted that both Philadelphia and Buffalo will be missing their star centers, Eric Lindros and Michael Peca, restricted free agents who refused to re-sign with their respective teams. "Peca can check Lindros in this series," cracked Clarke.

Comparing the two players` situations, Clarke called Peca`s a "business decision" for not re-signing with Buffalo and asking to be traded to any team. As for Lindros, Clarke said he turned down Philadelphia`s $8.5 million offer and handcuffed the club by only wanted to be traded to Toronto.

(Copyright 2001 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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Author: 6 ABC - Action News (AP)