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Philadelphia falls in OT Czerkawski nets game-winner to give Isles 4-3 win
Posted: Monday March 06, 2000 02:51 AM
PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- The New York Islanders haven't had much to cheer about this season. A win over Philadelphia gave them plenty of reason. Mariusz Czerkawski assisted on the tying goal late in regulation and then scored in overtime Sunday night, giving the Islanders a 4-3 comeback victory over the Flyers. "We have the youngest team in the league but we are taking those little steps," said Czerkawski, who scored with Philadelphia's Zarley Zalapski draped all over him after taking Josh Green's pass from behind the net. Czerkawski was then mobbed by his teammates. "Someday we are going to have a glory year," Czerkawski said. "That is what we are working for and that's why we're so happy because it was a great comeback against a great team." Czerkawski scored on a wrist shot from between the hash marks :59 into the extra session after setting up Jamie Rivers on the power play with 2:55 left in the third period. "It stinks," Philadelphia goalie Brian Boucher said. "I am really upset with myself. I let the team down tonight. When you can't stop the puck in the last 10 minutes, it's upsetting." Czerkawski was more than willing to give Green credit on the game-winner. "Just a great pass," he said. "I think their goalie tried to cheat a little when I tried to go to the net and get in the slot. I tried to go high." Rivers, who had gone 72 games without a goal, scored his first of the season on a slap shot from just inside the blue line after taking a cross-ice pass from Czerkawski. "We are probably not going to make the playoffs," New York coach Butch Goring said. "So we have to have our little displays of joy here and there. When we beat what we consider one of the elite teams in the league, it is exciting for our guys." Dave Scatchard and Olli Jokinen also scored for New York, which rallied from a 3-1 deficit to win for the first time in nine games (1-6-2) at Philadelphia. "It's disappointing," acting Flyers coach Craig Ramsey said. "We are usually good with the lead but we had a couple of breakdowns. We keep feeling that if we throw the puck at the net enough, it will go in. Their goaltender was sharp tonight." Keith Jones and Simon Gagne scored power-play goals in the second for Philadelphia. Gino Odjick, acquired last month in a trade with the Islanders, also scored for the Flyers. It was Odjick's first goal with Philadelphia and sixth overall. Philadelphia, which did not record an overtime shot, fired 46 at Kevin Weekes during regulation. Scatchard gave New York a 1-0 lead, scoring his 11th goal at 8:58 of the first, after taking a pass from Sean Haggerty on a brilliant 2-on-1 play. Jones, who has 10 points in 10 games, got the Flyers even by scoring during a scramble from the right side of the net on a power-play at 8:28 of the second. Gagne put the Flyers ahead 3:41 later, converting a rebound of a shot from slot by Mark Recchi. It was the eighth power play goal of the season for Gagne to lead NHL rookies. Recchi, who had two assists, leads the league with 35 power-play points. Philadelphia's two power-play goals snapped an 0-13 drought. The Flyers lead the NHL with 61 man-advantage goals. Odjick scored in a scramble in front of the net to increase the lead to 3-1 at 6:19 of the third after Weekes turned away shots by Recchi and Gagne. Jokinen made it 3-2 at 10:13 by deflecting Claude Lapointe's shot from the point high into the net. Rookie defenseman Andy Delmore sprained his right knee after colliding with New York's Ted Drury late in the second period. Delmore was helped off the ice and Drury was given a holding penalty. The Flyers were without center Keith Primeau, who was scratched after warmups. Primeau, who fractured a rib on Feb. 12, returned to action at Boston on Saturday after missing nine games.
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