Cechmanek Upstages Idol in Beating Sabres

The two top goalies from the Czech Republic had their first face-to-face meeting on Saturday and the newcomer showed the veteran a few tricks.

In only his third start for Philadelphia, Roman Cechmanek recorded his first NHL shutout as the Flyers defeated Buffalo, 3-0, at Philadelphia and ended the Sabres’ four-game winning streak.

In the process, Cechmanek held the upper hand against his boyhood idol, Buffalo’s Dominik Hasek, the starting goaltender on the Czech Republic’s 1998 Olympic gold medal-winning team.

“There was nervousness before the game thinking about playing against Hasek,” said Cechmanek through his interpreter, teammate Michal Sykora. “Once I stepped on the ice, I knew I had to play my game.”

Cechmanek was Hasek’s backup in the Olympics but didn’t get into any of the games as Hasek was named the outstanding goaltender. Cechmanek came to the United States with the understanding that he would continue to be a backup with the Flyers.

“I think I showed everybody that I’m good enough to play in the NHL,” he said.

Cechmanek, the outstanding goaltender in the Czech Elite league the last six years, faced only 18 shots but made a number of brilliant saves. The best came late in the second period when he stopped Vaclav Varada from point-blank range. With less than three minutes left in the third, he made an acrobatic save on Maxim Afinogenov.

New York Rangers 5, Montreal 2--Theo Fleury became the 60th NHL player to score 400 regular-season goals as he extended his goal-scoring streak to four games in the Rangers’ victory at Montreal.

Fleury didn’t waste any time reaching the milestone as he fired a shot over Jose Theodore’s right shoulder into the top corner of the net 3:28 into the game. It was his 11th goal of the season, and sixth during the streak.

San Jose 4, Carolina 1--Mike Ricci had a goal and two assists as the Sharks extended their unbeaten streak to seven games with a victory over the Hurricanes at San Jose.

The game featured a scary hit on San Jose rookie center Mark Smith, who had to be taken from the ice on a stretcher after he was struck from behind by Carolina’s Bates Battaglia.

According to the Sharks, Smith was knocked out and had a laceration to the head but had feeling in all his extremities. He was taken to San Jose Medical Center for X-rays and observation.

Toronto 0, St. Louis 0--Curtis Joseph made eight of his 36 saves in overtime as the Maple Leafs and Blues played to a scoreless tie at St. Louis.

Roman Turek made 16 saves for the Blues, whose seven-game winning streak ended although they shut out their second consecutive opponent.

Atlanta 8, Boston 3--Tomi Kallio, a rookie who began the game with just two goals, scored three times as the second-year Thrashers set a single-game scoring record and beat the Bruins at Boston.

Ottawa 2, Columbus 2--Shawn McEachern scored with 9:12 remaining in regulation to help the Senators tie the expansion Blue Jackets at Kanata, Canada.

Washington 3, Florida 2--Sergei Gonchar had a goal and an assist as the Capitals beat the Panthers for their first road win this season at Sunrise, Fla.

Calgary 1, Pittsburgh 1--Fred Brathwaite made 31 saves, including one on Jaromir Jagr with eight minutes remaining, as the Flames escaped with a tie at Calgary.