Panthers Name Torchetti Coach

Hoping to spark a surge that ends with a playoff berth, Florida Panther General Manager Rick Dudley made his second coaching change of the season Monday.

This time Dudley’s out, and assistant coach John Torchetti is in.

Dudley, who took over as coach when he fired Mike Keenan on Nov. 9, gave up the job to focus on his GM duties. Torchetti will make his debut as an NHL head coach tonight at home against Montreal.

The young Panthers (18-23-11-3) began the week nine points behind in the race for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, but they have a favorable schedule down the stretch.

“We think we’re a good enough team to take a run at a playoff spot,” Dudley said. “We’re playing reasonably well. We can ratchet that up a little bit. Maybe this is a little jolt.”

*

As expected, the Philadelphia Flyers acquired three-time All-Star goalie Sean Burke and two forwards from the Phoenix Coyotes for promising young center Mike Comrie.

The Flyers were down to rookie Antero Niittymaki in goal. Jeff Hackett retired Monday because of vertigo, and Robert Esche, once Burke’s backup in Phoenix, is sidelined by a sprained knee.

The 37-year-old Burke is 10-15-5 this season with one shutout and a 2.81 goals-against average. Comrie, 23, has only four goals and five assists in 21 games for the Flyers this season, but scored 33 and 20 goals in consecutive seasons for Edmonton before running into contract problems with the Oilers last summer.

In addition to Burke, the Flyers acquired right wing Branko Radivojevic and the rights to left wing Ben Eager, an unsigned minor leaguer who was picked 23rd overall in the 2002 draft.

*

The St. Louis Blues acquired veteran defenseman Eric Weinrich from the Flyers in a move to help fill the void caused by season-ending injuries to two key defensemen. In exchange, the Flyers will get a fifth-round pick in the 2004 draft.... General Manager Jay Feaster and Coach John Tortorella agreed to multiyear contract extensions with the Tampa Bay Lightning.