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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- All Damian Rhodes wanted was another chance.
A night after a terrible performance in a home loss to
Philadelphia, the Atlanta goalie stopped 37 shots as the Thrashers
tied the Flyers 2-2 on Saturday night.
On Friday night, Rhodes was yanked by coach Curt Fraser after
allowing three goals in the first two minutes of the Flyers' 6-4
victory in Atlanta. The two talked on the plane ride and Rhodes
emphasized how much he wanted to start again against the Flyers.
"I could see it in his eyes that he would come right at them
tonight," Fraser said. "Damian did an exceptional job. He was
outstanding."
Rhodes helped the Thrashers increase their points total to 39,
matching the second-year franchise's total for all of last season.
"I just wanted to get a good night's sleep and forget about
that game," Rhodes said. "It was a fresh outlook. That's what I
needed to take and once I got through the first period I felt I had
my confidence back."
Philadelphia's Keith Primeau scored his 200th NHL goal with 7:36
left in the third period to salvage the tie. Primeau, standing
alone in the crease, poked the puck past Rhodes' stick side after
taking a pass from Ruslan Fedotenko.
Simon Gagne also scored for the Flyers, who outshot the
Thrashers 39-20, but failed to convert on six power plays including
one in overtime when Atlanta had a 4-2 shots advantage.
Atlanta's Steve Staios had a goal and an assist, and Denny
Lambert also scored for the Thrashers.
"Our goaltending has been our strength this year," Fraser
said. "That and our defense has been the biggest difference in our
hockey club."
Philadelphia coach Bill Barber also was impressed with the
Thrashers.
"All you have to do is look at their record," Barber said.
"This team is supposed to be an expansion team but it's pretty
good. All you have to do is look around the league at top teams
that are getting beaten by expansion teams. It is happening. It is
real."
Staios scored on the Thrashers' first shot of the game on a
power play at 10:07 of the first period. He threaded a slap shot
through a screen and over goalie's Roman Cechmanek glove.
Lambert made it 2-0 with his first goal of the season at 8:11 of
the second period. Cechmanek kicked out an attempt by Stephen
Guolla, but the puck bounced right to Lambert, who scored from
inside the left circle.
Gagne countered 3:40 later, scoring from close range off a pass
from P.J. Stock.
The Flyers almost scored another goal when Daymond Langkow hit
the post with 20 seconds left in the second period.
Game notes
Atlanta defenseman Adam Burt had surgery for a herniated
disc in his lower back Saturday in Atlanta. He is expected to be
sidelined for about six weeks. ... Atlanta's Ray Ferraro and Donald
Audette each had an assist. The line of Ferraro, Audette and Andrew
Brunette has 15 points in the past six games. ... Defenseman Dan
McGillis played in his 200th game with the Flyers. ... Cechmanek is
6-0-3 in his last nine games.
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ALSO SEE
NHL Scoreboard
Atlanta Clubhouse
Philadelphia Clubhouse
RECAPS
New Jersey 5
NY Rangers 5
Colorado 2
Carolina 2
Phoenix 2
NY Islanders 1
Ottawa 4
Montreal 3
Atlanta 2
Philadelphia 2
Washington 3
Toronto 2
Dallas 4
Boston 0
Buffalo 2
Nashville 0
St. Louis 5
Minnesota 1
Los Angeles 5
Calgary 0
Vancouver 4
Columbus 3
San Jose 3
Florida 1
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