Cechmanek Dominates for Flyers

Often criticized for his unconventional style, Roman Cechmanek again made all the saves in a crucial game.

Cechmanek stopped 28 shots and Michal Handzus scored the only goal as the Philadelphia Flyers evened their series with a 1-0 victory over the Ottawa Senators on Thursday night.

Game 5 of the best-of-seven Eastern Conference semifinals is Saturday in Ottawa.

“It doesn’t matter if it’s a shutout or 5-4, it’s the playoffs and we need to win,” Cechmanek said.

After losing Game 1, Cechmanek was brilliant in a 33-save performance in a 2-0 road victory Sunday night. He stopped 24 shots, giving up an overtime goal on a shot he never saw in a 3-2 loss Tuesday night.

Cechmanek has stopped 131 of 135 shots in the five games after a loss during the playoffs.

“He answered the bell again,” Flyer Coach Ken Hitchcock said. “Today, the roller coaster was on the start position. We’ll see where it is Saturday.”

Cechmanek’s best save of the first two periods came when he stopped Martin Havlat’s point-blank backhander with his right pad early in the second.

Handzus gave the Flyers a 1-0 lead with 2:54 left in the first period, deflecting a shot by Chris Therien into the top left corner.