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Delmore strikes again for Flyers
Posted: Sunday May 07, 2000 07:23 PM
PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- Andy Delmore had once-in-a-lifetime moments twice in one week. The rookie defenseman scored three times Sunday in Philadelphia's 6-3 victory over Pittsburgh after he beat the Penguins in overtime with a goal just five days earlier. The Flyers lead the best-of-seven Eastern Conference semifinals 3-2 after losing the first two games at home. "Even when I dream at night, I don't ever dream of that," said Delmore, who also had the first Philadelphia goal in Game 3, the same night as his game-winner. "I just think about playing a great game, I don't think about scoring three goals." Delmore, who was recalled six times this season from the Flyers' AHL affiliate, got his first hat trick since his days in juniors with Sarnia of the Ontario Hockey League. Now he's tied with Pittsburgh's Jaromir Jagr, the NHL's leading scorer in the regular season, with a series-best five goals. "I said the other day that the highlight of my career, so far, was getting an overtime winner," Delmore said. "Tonight when that third one went in, was a great feeling for me. There's not any words that can describe how I felt out there." Delmore, who had two goals and six assists in 29 regular-season games, tied the NHL playoff record for goals in a game by a defenseman -- the 11th to accomplish the feat. "I never want to be known as a goal scorer, I'm a defenseman," the 23-year-old said. "I try to play a good all-around hockey game. I think that's something the coaching staff wants." Delmore gave the Flyers a 2-0 lead Sunday, just 3:27 in, when he ripped a slapshot from near the right circle on a set up by Mark Recchi, who had a goal and four assists. His second goal came late in the second period, restoring the Flyers' four-goal lead 2:44 after the Penguins closed to 4-1. The hat trick was completed 5:17 into the third when Delmore ripped a shot from the slot past goalie Peter Skudra after receiving a nice feed from Keith Primeau -- the hero in Game 4, who ended the five-overtime thriller. Delmore's fifth goal of the series made it 6-2 and brought hats, numbered at 225, cascading from all corners of First Union Center. "I never got a chance to count them, but there were quite of few," said Delmore, who took home a bagful as a memento. "I wasn't even thinking two [goals]. I thought if I go home with one goal and the team wins, everybody's happy.". Philadelphia coach Craig Ramsay gave Delmore the chance to prove himself after Ramsay took over the team when Roger Neilson left for cancer treatment. "Delly brings a lot to the table," Ramsay said of Delmore, who is the first rookie defenseman to have two multiple goal games in one playoff season. "When he started to play here late in the season, we realized here's a guy who can give us offense from the blue line." His pairing with Adam Burt is paying dividends for the Flyers, who are just a win away from the conference finals. "We have a deal," Burt said of Delmore. "We're on a 3-to-1 ratio -- every three times he goes in, I get to go one. It just reflects on all of us as a whole. If he keeps up stuff like that, I like our chances."
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