Flyers Thrash Atlanta

Jeremy Roenick and Keith Primeau scored third-period goals to lead the Philadelphia Flyers to a 3-1 victory over the Atlanta Thrashers on Monday night. It was 1-1 with 10 minutes remaining when Roenick took a pass from Simon Gagne on the power play and flipped a shot past goalie Damian Rhodes.

Primeau added the insurance goal with 6:25 to play as the Flyers won for the fourth time in five games.

Roman Cechmanek stopped 14 of 15 shots as the Philadelphia defense frustrated the Thrashers and allowed few clear shots on goal. The Flyers are third in the NHL in goals against average (2.11).

Philadelphia has been waiting for Roenick and Primeau to kick in with some steady offense, as the pair entered with just nine goals between them. John LeClair hasn't scored in eight games.

The Flyers took a 1-0 lead with 10:45 left in the first period when Roenick fed Gagne, all alone in front of the net. Gagne did not hit the puck solidly and it fooled Rhodes. The puck bounced in for Gagne's team-high 13th goal.

Atlanta tied it with 9:17 remaining in the second period when Shean Donovan fired a pass to Tony Hrkac, cutting to the net. Hrkac beat Cechmanek with a quick shot.

The Thrashers had just nine shots through two periods, and were 0-for-6 in that span on the power play. The Thrashers couldn't make the simplest of passes and couldn't control the puck.

Notes:
Atlanta rookie forwards Ilya Kovalchuk and Dany Heatley have combined for 21 goals and 44 assists. ... The Flyers are 6-0 when they score more than three goals. ... Philadelphia has allowed two goals or fewer in 18 of its 27 games.

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

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Author: 6 - ABC, Action News