NHL
Scores/Schedules
Standings
Statistics
Transactions
Injuries
Players
Weekly lineup
Video Highlights

  Thursday, Mar. 16 7:30pm ET
Flyers squeeze point out of Hackett
 
  RECAP | BOX SCORE

PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- Although Jeff Hackett wasn't acquired by Philadelphia at the trade deadline, he showed the Flyers what he could do Thursday night.

Hackett, one of the goalies the Flyers were rumored to be seeking all season, made 38 saves as the Montreal Canadiens tied Philadelphia 1-1. The Flyers did not acquire a goalie as Tuesday's trade deadline passed, electing to go with John Vanbiesbrouck and Brian Boucher.

Peter White
Montreal goalie Jeff Hackett frustrated Peter White and the Flyers all night.
Vanbiesbrouck started his second straight game for the first time in a month and made 25 saves.

"They came at us pretty hard in the second and third periods," Hackett said. "The overtime wasn't easy either. It's always one of the toughest buildings to get away with anything."

Rick Tocchet scored for the Flyers, who moved within five points of the Atlantic Division-leading New Jersey Devils. Sergei Zholtok had Montreal's goal.

The Flyers were playing their second straight game without captain Eric Lindros, who remained hospitalized Thursday night with a post-traumatic migraine headache, the result of a concussion suffered in a game two weeks ago.

Lindros, admitted to the hospital Wednesday, is expected to be sidelined at least 10 days.

"It's not a distraction as much as a concern," Vanbiesbrouck said of Lindros' condition. "It's not about playing games. It's about him getting better."

Hackett made six saves in overtime, including a glove save on Mark Recchi's slap shot midway through the extra period. Hackett stopped a point-blank shot by John LeClair 30 seconds into overtime, and a wrister by Mark Eaton seconds later.

He also withstood a late flurry in the final minute of overtime.

"Hackett made some big saves, but Vanbiesbrouck was just as big," Montreal coach Alain Vigneault said. "They outshot us, but they didn't out-chance us."

Former Flyer Karl Dykhuis had the best opportunity to win it, but hit the crossbar on a shot from the slot with 38 seconds left in overtime.

Vanbiesbrouck preserved the tie with a kick save on a shot by Zholtok in the final seconds. He also had a nice scoop save on a redirected shot by Brian Savage with 1:07 left in overtime.

The Flyers took a 1-0 lead when Tocchet put back his own rebound after Dan McGillis fired a shot from just inside the blue line with 7:22 remaining in the first.

The power-play goal was Tocchet's 14th and second since coming back to the Flyers in a trade with Phoenix last week. It was the Flyers' first power-play goal in three games.

"There was a rebound and I just jammed at it," Tocchet said. "I kept jamming at it and just shoved it in. It was like playoff hockey. That gets you ready. It's better than being up by a lot and cruising in."

The Canadiens tied it on Zholtok's 23rd goal of the season 2:39 into the third. Former Flyer Dainius Zubrus set up the goal with a centering pass, which Zholtok redirected over Vanbiesbrouck's glove as Flyers defenseman Luke Richardson appeared to slightly screen the goalie.

"It was a fluke goal," Zholtok said. "I got the pass and just tried to shove it on the net. I saw an opening and figured I can push it through. I never thought it would go in. At this point, we'll take everything."

The Flyers had a chance to win in regulation, but Daymond Langkow hit the side of an open net after controlling a rebound off a shot by Valeri Zelepukin with just under three minutes left.

Philadelphia had a power play in the final two minutes, but did not manage a shot.

"We tried wraps and stuffing in there," Philadelphia interim coach Craig Ramsay said. "At times we just got too close to the net."

With Lindros out of the lineup, Keith Primeau centered the top line.
 


ALSO SEE
NHL Scoreboard

Montreal Clubhouse

Philadelphia Clubhouse


Flyers' Clarke says Lindros treatment never mishandled

Canadiens' playoff hopes severely hurt with Linden injury


RECAPS
NY Islanders 4
Atlanta 2

Toronto 4
Detroit 3

Montreal 1
Philadelphia 1

Pittsburgh 4
Florida 2

Chicago 5
Boston 4

Nashville 2
Colorado 2

Vancouver 6
Buffalo 3

AUDIO/VIDEO
video
 Sergei Zholtok sends it to overtime.
avi: 725 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1