Flyers Win Emotional Game Over Wild

Keith Primeau was happier with Philadelphia's overall effort than he was about snapping a nine-game scoring slump. Jan Hlavac scored two goals in a span of 42 seconds and Roman Cechmanek made 31 saves as Philadelphia defeated the Minnesota Wild, 5-1, on Saturday. It was the most goals scored by the Flyers since they blanked Washington, 5-0, on Nov. 15, and only the sixth time this season that they have scored five or more goals.

"More important than the five goals, I thought it was our most consistent 60 minute effort," Primeau, the Flyers' captain, said. "We came at them from the start. Our guys were prepared."

Primeau, Mark Recchi and Luke Richardson also scored. Recchi added two assists.

Wes Walz scored for the Wild, who also had an apparent goal disallowed late in the first period when officials ruled that a shot by Pascal Dupuis that bounced off the crossbar never crossed the line.

"We were a little afraid of this hockey club because they're a good team," Primeau said of the Wild. "Everybody wants to put the expansion tag on them but they've got some guys who are capable of scoring, one of the top power plays in the league and one of the best penalty kills."

Richardson, who celebrated his return to the lineup with his first goal in almost a year, scored on a slap shot from the blue line at 7:02 of the first period.

Richardson missed ten games after fracturing his right foot at Florida on Nov. 10. It was his first goal in 51 games dating back to last Jan. 22 when he scored against the Los Angeles Kings.

With Minnesota's Jason Marshall off with a boarding penalty, Recchi made it 2-0 with a wrist shot from the right circle.

The Wild got on the board 20 seconds into the second period when Walz hammered a slap shot from the left circle under Cechmanek's pads.

Hlavac increased the Flyers' lead to 3-1 then 4-1 when he flipped a backhander from the slot at 6:41 and then converted Recchi's pass from behind the net at 7:23.

Primeau skated from behind the goal to beat Minnesota goaltender Dwayne Roloson on a power play with 1:34 left. Roloson, who was replaced by Manny Fernandez at the beginning of the third period, allowed five goals on 22 shots.

"We're not the type of team to come back from two or three goals down," Minnesota's Andrew Brunette said. "We can't let that happen. Obviously we have to make some adjustments."

Philadelphia's Justin Williams suffered a sprained right shoulder after being checked by Brad Brown early in the first period. He stayed in the game for a few shifts, and assisted on Richardson's goal, but did not return for the second period.

"I thought we did not play that bad," Minnesota coach Jacques Lemaire said. "We got mistakes in the net. I felt the guys worked hard. We were lacking in the fore-checking."

Notes:
Bill Barber's wife, Jenny, passed away earlier on Saturday after an eight-month bout with lung cancer. The Flyers' coach was behind the bench for the game at the request of his family. ... Philadelphia had been winless in six previous games against Western Conference teams (0-3-3). ... Minnesota played the second of a four-game road trip. The Wild has a 4-7-1 record away from home. ... The Flyers have allowed the fewest goals (58) in the NHL.

(Copyright 2001 by the Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

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Author: 6 - ABC, Action News