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BOX SCORE
PHILADELPHIA (AP) – John LeClair broke out of his scoring slump
at just the right time.
LeClair's power-play goal with 20.4 seconds left in overtime
lifted Philadelphia to a 4-3 victory Saturday over the Pittsburgh
Penguins, keeping alive the Flyers' hopes for home-ice advantage in
the first round of the playoffs.
|  | | The scuffle between Philly's Chris McAllister, left, and Steve McKenna was one of four fights during the first period. Both players received fighting majors. |
"It felt good. You have to start somewhere," said LeClair, who
hadn't scored in six games since returning from a back injury.
"When you finally get one, you don't grip a stick quite as
tight."
Philadelphia is tied with the Buffalo Sabres for the No. 4 seed
in the Eastern Conference entering the last day of the regular
season. The Flyers play at Buffalo on Sunday and need a victory to
get home-ice advantage when the NHL playoffs start Wednesday
because the Sabres hold the tie-breaker edge.
"Every team is battling and preparing themselves for the next
step and that's playoff hockey," Flyers coach Bill Barber said.
"I believe our team made a step today on what needs to get done
for us to be effective in the playoffs."
With the loss, Pittsburgh has clinched the No. 6 spot in the
East and will open the playoffs on the road against the Washington
Capitals.
"We're just trying to finish the year and start the playoffs,"
said owner/player Mario Lemieux. "We can't wait to get started.
We're trying to keep everyone healthy so we can start the big
dance."
Lemieux and Jaromir Jagr had a goal and two assists apiece as
the Penguins took a 3-0 lead in the first period.
But the Flyers, helped by seven straight power plays, scored the
last four goals, including three with the man advantage.
LeClair tied it at 3 by poking a rebound off a blast from Eric
Desjardins past Penguins goaltender Garth Snow with 8:59 left. The
goal came just four seconds into Philadelphia's eighth power play.
Seconds after hitting the post in overtime, LeClair backhanded a
pass from Mark Recchi past Snow for the game-winner after Bob
Boughner was called for high-sticking.
"It's a big lift off his shoulders," Recchi said about
LeClair. "He was around that puck all night, winning battles down
low. You can tell he's really getting stronger. The John that we
know is going to be hard to contain."
Lemieux gave the Penguins a 1-0 lead when he one-timed a pass
from Robert Lang for his 35th goal with 6:45 left in the first.
Philadelphia didn't take its first shot until 9:12 remained in
the first period, but the Flyers bombarded Snow in the second. Paul
Ranheim poked a rebound past Snow to cut it to 3-1 just 17 seconds
into the period.
The Flyers took seven shots in the first 90 seconds of the
second, outshot the Penguins 21-3 in the period and had six power
plays.
Ruslan Fedotenko cut it to 3-2 on a power play with 4:21 left in
the second. The puck appeared to bounce off Fedotenko's skate, but
the goal stood after being reviewed.
Philadelphia outshot the Penguins 39-14.
"We had to kill a lot of penalties," Lemieux said. "Every
time you have to do that you can't get a good flow in the game,
especially your lines."
Marc Bergevin gave the Penguins a 2-0 lead on his first goal
since Dec. 23, 1999, with 2:10 left in the first. Less than two
minutes later, Jagr one-timed a pass from Lemieux for his 52nd
goal.
Jagr all but clinched his fifth NHL scoring title and fourth
straight. He leads Colorado's Joe Sakic in points 121-115 entering
Sunday's games.
Game notes
Lemieux said he will sit out Sunday's game against
Carolina. Jagr left the game with a bruised finger in the third
period but was expected to play Sunday. ... The Flyers have won
just two of their last eight games. Pittsburgh had won five of six.
... Jagr has 16 goals and 14 assists in his last 15 games. He has
scored goals in six straight. ... Pittsburgh's Wayne Primeau got a
five-minute major penalty for boarding and a game misconduct
following a hit on P.J. Stock late in the second. Stock sustained a
neck stringer on the hit and did not return.
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ALSO SEE
NHL Scoreboard
Pittsburgh Clubhouse
Philadelphia Clubhouse
RECAPS
Detroit 4
Colorado 3
Florida 3
NY Rangers 0
Philadelphia 4
Pittsburgh 3
Dallas 5
San Jose 4
Boston 4
NY Islanders 2
New Jersey 2
Montreal 0
Ottawa 5
Toronto 3
St. Louis 1
Nashville 0
Los Angeles 3
Calgary 2
Edmonton 4
Vancouver 2
AUDIO/VIDEO
 John LeClair tip-in scores the game winner against Pittsburgh (Courtesy: ABC Sports).
avi: 1905 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Marc Bergevin beats Roman Cechmanek for the goal (Courtesy: ABC Sports).
avi: 1484 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
John LeClair wrist shot scores tying goal against Pittsburgh (Courtesy: ABC Sports).
avi: 802 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Jaromir Jagr finds Mario Lemieux whose power play goal puts Pittsburgh on the board (Courtesy: ABC Sports).
avi: 842 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Jaromir Jagr blasts the puck over the shoulder of Roman Cechmanek (Courtesy: ABC Sports).
avi: 1193 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Ruslan Fedotenko crashes the net to score the power play goal (Courtesy: ABC Sports).
avi: 671 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
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