Canucks in Philly to face streaking Flyers
Sports Network
3/4/2003
(Sports Network) - The Philadelphia Flyers seek their fourth consecutive victory tonight when they welcome the Vancouver Canucks to First Union Center.
Philly, 5-1-2 in its last eight tries, has toppled Chicago, twice, and Boston during its tear, including Saturday's 3-2 overtime win in Beantown. Jeremy Roenick scored his second goal of the game one minute into the extra frame to provide the heroics for the Flyers, who also received a tally from Donald Brashear.
Roman Cechmanek finished with 24 saves and has surrendered a mere 11 goals during a seven-game personal unbeaten streak (5-0-2).
Kim Johnsson and Mark Recchi both chipped in assists on Saturday and stretched their points streaks to five games. Johnsson has three goals and three assists during his run, while Recchi has three scores and two helpers in his.
The Flyers pulled off a trade after Saturday's win, acquiring veteran defenseman Dmitry Yushkevich from the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for a fourth-round pick in 2003 and a seventh-round selection in '04. The 31-year-old, who started his career with Philadelphia in 1992, joins his third team this season after spending time with the Panthers and Kings. He had played the previous seven years in Toronto.
Philadelphia sits fourth in the Eastern Conference with 81 points -- two ahead of fifth-place Toronto. The Flyers, 21-0-3 when leading after two periods, will visit the New York Rangers on Friday.
Vancouver, meanwhile, is 1-0-1 since having its franchise-record 14-game unbeaten streak (10-0-4) snapped last Thursday against San Jose. After a 1-1 tie in Montreal on Saturday, the Canucks posted a 6-4 victory over Boston on Monday.
Matt Cooke had two goals and an assist to lead the Canucks, who extended their road unbeaten streak to a franchise-best nine games (6-0-3). Vancouver also won its 21st away contest of the season, also a team mark.
Peter Skudra posted 37 saves, and Todd Bertuzzi, Trent Klatt, Trevor Linden and Marek Malik added goals. Skudra made his third straight start in place of Dan Cloutier, who is sidelined with a knee sprain.
The Canucks enter tonight with 89 points -- one behind Dallas for the best record in the Western Conference. Vancouver, which plays the third portion of a five-game road trip, will visit Columbus on Thursday.
Philly and Vancouver split two games a season ago, with each club winning in the other's rink. The Flyers have won three of the last four and nine of the last 11 meetings, while the Canucks have dropped five of their last seven in the City of Brotherly Love.
Cheers,
Aquaman