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BOX SCORE
PHILADELPHIA (Ticker) -- The Philadelphia Flyers keep losing
players and winning games.
Keith Primeau recorded his first career hat trick and added an
assist to lead the Flyers to their third straight home victory,
5-2 over the Calgary Flames.
Primeau scored in each period, finishing off Philadelphia's
second hat trick of the season by finding an empty net with 40
seconds remaining. The other hat trick was recorded by John
LeClair, one of four key regulars who are sidelined by injuries.
Simon Gagne (shoulder) and rookie Justin Williams (hand) also
are injured and the Flyers were without second-line center
Daymond Langkow, who had a 227 consecutive games streak end due
to a non-displaced fracture of his left foot.
With Langkow out, Primeau double-shifted. He opened the scoring
and put Philadelphia ahead for good 8:33 into a dominant first
period when he cut to the net and slid a backhander between
goaltender Fred Brathwaite's pads.
It was Primeau's 30th goal, marking the first time he has
reached that plateau since the 1998-99 season.
"I honestly believed at the turn of the calendar last year I
wasn't going to play in the NHL," said Primeau, who was
embroiled in a contract dispute with the Carolina Hurricanes
before he was traded to Philadelphia. "Then to have the
opportunity to enjoy the run we made in the playoffs and to be
in a place where they enjoy the game of hockey, I don't want to
say it's a rebirth, but it's been a lot of fun."
Playing the opener of a five-game road trip, Calgary went nearly
12 minutes without a shot as the Flyers ended the period with a
16-4 advantage.
"They had a lot of momentum. The came out and played extremely
hard off the start. Luckily, Freddie was there to make some
saves until we got ourselves going," said Flames right wing
Jarome Iginla.
Philadelphia defenseman Eric Desjardins and Iginla traded goals
in the opening 11 1/2 minutes of the second before Primeau
struck again on the power play at 14:17. After defenseman Derek
Morris whiffed on a clearing attempt, Primeau swept the puck
past Brathwaite from just above the crease.
Defenseman Chris McAllister slid a backhander by Brathwaite at
3:04 of the third period to extend the Flyers' lead, but Iginla
answered on the power play with 5:10 left.
Primeau's empty-netter sealed the win, which kept Philadelphia
one point behind first-place New Jersey in the Atlantic
Division. Both teams are chasing Ottawa for the top seed in the
Eastern Conference.
"There was a little bit of fear there because we've had a couple
of days off and Saturday is a big game against New Jersey,"
Primeau said. "Calgary is a young hockey club. Although they
may miss the playoffs, they got a lot of energy. So we had to
be careful."
Asked about Primeau, Flyers coach Bill Barber said, "I'm happy
for him. He's been a great player for us. I think it's the
best he's skated all year long. He is really a force when he
goes to the net hard, and he was rewarded."
Valeri Bure set up both goals for the Flames, who have dropped
two in a row following a three-game unbeaten streak. They
remained 13 points behind Edmonton and Phoenix for the final
playoff spot in the West.
"We have to play better defensively," Iginla said. "We can't
open it up. We're successful when we come out with a lot of
energy and we keep it tight."
The goals by Desjardins and McAllister were the 36th and 37th
scored by Flyers defensemen. Last season, Philadelphia got only
29 from its defense.
"It gives our team another element," McAllister said. "Other
teams now have to respect our defense, and in turn it helps our
forwards down low. It gives them a little more time and a
little more space."
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NHL Scoreboard
Calgary Clubhouse
Philadelphia Clubhouse
RECAPS
Ottawa 5
Boston 3
Philadelphia 5
Calgary 2
Pittsburgh 5
Atlanta 3
New Jersey 6
Minnesota 2
Tampa Bay 1
Carolina 0
Colorado 5
St. Louis 2
Phoenix 3
Vancouver 2
Los Angeles 4
Nashville 1
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