Vishnevski Hits a Nerve

The lunch-pail crowd in this hardscrabble town like their checking rough and tough. A crowd of 19,477 at the First Union Center got its first glimpse of Duck defenseman Vitaly Vishnevski and the fans didn’t like him one bit, mainly because he plastered several of their heroes against the glass Saturday.

Philadelphia fans like their hits, but they like their Flyers even more and they didn’t particularly enjoy watching Vishnevski do his best against their boys.

By game’s end, Vishnevski had recorded a game-high eight hits, including a third-period thumping of Keith Jones that left the Flyer winger dazed and confused.

Vishnevski lowered his shoulder into Jones’ head, flattening him and ending a Flyer rush up ice. Jones did not play again after the hit, which happened about midway through the final period.

Flyer fans wailed for a penalty, but none was forthcoming from referees Terry Gregson and Stephen Walkom.

“He’s going to make some mistakes because he’s young,” Coach Craig Hartsburg said of Vishnevski, 20. “He hits hard and he hits clean. The more he plays, the more confident he’s going to be with the puck.’

Vishnevski picked up his fourth assist and his third in two games, setting up Mike Leclerc’s second-period goal that cut the Flyer lead to 3-2. However, Vishnevski also was on the ice for two of the Flyers’ three goals.

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A quick whistle from Gregson cost Paul Kariya a goal during a delayed penalty for interference against Philadelphia’s Kevin Stevens 1:36 into the third period.

The Ducks buzzed the Flyer net until defenseman Niclas Havelid fired a perimeter shot that goalie Roman Cechmanek knocked aside with his glove. Gregson should have let play continue since Cechmanek did not have control of the puck, but blew his whistle before Kariya swatted the rebound into the net.

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Defenseman Ruslan Salei suffered a bruised left foot when he took a shot off his boot in the first period. He played into the second period, but did not take a shift in the third. X-rays were negative. . . . Center German Titov missed his second consecutive game because of a bruised chest, but skated Saturday morning. . . . Several members of the Utah Jazz, including point guard John Stockton, watched the game from the press box. Utah plays the Philadelphia 76ers in an NBA exhibition game tonight.