Absence of Lindros Gives Flyers the Edge

Eric Lindros is still affecting the Philadelphia Flyers’ game plan, three seasons after the former captain was traded to the New York Rangers.

This time he did it by not playing.

Lindros, sick with flu, was sent home just before the puck dropped Thursday night. Without having to face him, the Flyers switched their lines and beat the Rangers, 4-2, at New York.

Keith Primeau was slated to center a checking line with Sami Kapanen and Donald Brashear to face Lindros. But without Lindros to worry about, Flyer Coach Ken Hitchcock was able to put Primeau with fast skaters Kapanen and Simon Gagne.

That line clicked again with Gagne and Kapanen each scoring goals set up by Primeau.

“Our guys made a real smooth adjustment,” Primeau said. “It would’ve been a much different game if Eric was there.”

Primeau set up Kapanen’s tying goal late in the first period and then assisted on Gagne’s score that gave Philadelphia a 3-2 lead. Mark Recchi and John LeClair had power-play goals for the Flyers, who entered three for 35 with the man-advantage in 10 games since scoring five times on the power play Dec. 30 in St. Louis.

Anson Carter gave New York a short-lived lead in the first period, and Brian Leetch had a power-play goal to draw the Rangers even at 2-2 in the second.

Ottawa 6, Pittsburgh 5 -- Martin Havlat and Peter Schaefer each scored two goals and Marian Hossa had three assists to lead the Senators at Ottawa.

Daniel Alfredsson and Josh Langfeld also scored to help Ottawa move within a point of Toronto for the Eastern Conference lead. The Senators improved to 13-2-4 in their last 19 games.

Colorado 1, Atlanta 1 -- Pasi Nurminen made 20 saves and the Thrashers held the Avalanche’s NHL-leading power play scoreless at Atlanta.

Colorado had converted 24% of its opportunities with the man-advantage coming in but squandered five chances against the Thrashers, including a brief five-on-three in the second period.

Calgary 4, Nashville 0 -- Shean Donovan and Matthew Lombardi each scored twice and Roman Turek made 23 saves for his 25th career shutout to lead the Flames at Calgary, Canada.

Turek, making his fourth start in a row after sitting out three months because of a knee injury, improved to 2-4-0 this season with his fifth career shutout against the Predators.

Buffalo 3, Boston 2 -- Miroslav Satan scored two late goals at Boston to help the Sabres end a six-game road winless streak.

Buffalo ended a three-game losing streak and won for only the second time in its last six games. The Sabres also ended Boston’s six-game home unbeaten streak.

Phoenix 2, San Jose 1 -- Ladislav Nagy scored the go-ahead goal, Brian Boucher made 34 saves and the Coyotes ended a five-game winless streak with a victory at San Jose. The Coyotes also ended the Sharks’ four-game winning streak a day after San Jose beat Phoenix, 4-2, in Arizona.

Chicago 7, Columbus 0 -- Craig Anderson made 30 saves for his first NHL victory and shutout, and seven players scored for the Blackhawks at Chicago. Anderson entered the game with an 0-11-2 record in his two-year NHL career.

Tampa Bay 3, Edmonton 2 -- Vincent Lecavalier scored a goal and had an assist to lead the visiting Lightning at Edmonton, Canada.