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Tuesday, 10.11.2005 / 12:00 AM
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Philadelphia Flyers
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Peter Forsberg's presence is having an immediate impact on Simon Gagne. That can only mean good things for the Philadelphia Flyers.
Gagne and Forsberg look to continue their high-scoring partnership for the Flyers as they visit the winless Toronto Maple Leafs.
The additions of former NHL MVP Forsberg, defensemen Derian Hatcher and Mike Rathje, and rookies Mike Richards and Jeff Carter made Philadelphia an early favorite to win its first championship in 30 years.
Forsberg, Philadelphia's biggest offseason acquisition, has four assists in two games with three coming on goals by Gagne.
"He sees me pretty well on the ice. He's amazing," Gagne said. "He finds me everywhere. He's fun to play with."
Gagne scored twice and Jon Sim had the go-ahead goal, leading the Flyers to a 5-2 victory over visiting New Jersey on Friday.
Michal Handzus and Turner Stevenson also had goals for Philadelphia, which plays four of its first five games this season at home.
Toronto, still searching for its first win, has struggled defensively in three games, allowing 14 goals.
Dany Heatley scored the lone goal in the shootout to give Ottawa a 6-5 victory over the Maple Leafs on Monday.
Tie Domi, Clark Wilm and Nik Antropov all scored in a 1:55 span in the third period to erase a 4-2 deficit and give the Maple Leafs a one-goal lead with just over 12 minutes to play in the third period. Ottawa, however, got the equalizer less than two minutes later.
"I was proud of how our guys bounced back," Maple Leafs coach Pat Quinn said. "It would be easy to accept what was going on. We were up earlier in the game as well and gave it up. We'll just have to find a way to play better."
Bryan McCabe and Darcy Tucker added power-play goals for Toronto. Tomas Kaberle had three assists for the Leafs, giving him a team-high five points.
STANDINGS (through Oct. 9): Flyers - 8 points, 2nd place (tied), 2 PB, Atlantic Division. Maple Leafs - 6 points, 4th place, 5 PB, Northeast Division.
TEAM LEADERS: Flyers - Gagne, 3 goals; Forsberg, 4 assists and 4 points; Sim, 6 PIM. Maple Leafs - Domi, Bryan McCabe, and Antropov, 1 goals; Kaberle, 5 assists and 5 points; Aki Berg, Bryan McCabe, Alexei Ponikarovsky and Darcy Tucker, 4 PIM.
SPECIAL TEAMS (through Oct. 9): Flyers - Power play: 6.7 percent (1 for 15), 28th in NHL. Penalty killing: 69.2 percent (9 for 13), 28th. Maple Leafs - Power play: 11.8 percent (2 for 17), 22nd (tied). Penalty killing: 77.8 percent (7 for 9), 19th (tied).
GOALTENDERS: Flyers - Robert Esche (0-1-0, 0 SO, 5.08 GAA); Antero Niittymaki (1-0-0, 2.00). Maple Leafs - Ed Belfour (0-1-1, 3.39); Mikael Tellqvist (0-0-0, 0.00).
2003-2004 SEASON SERIES: Maple Leafs, 3-1-0-0.
LAST MEETING: March 18, 2004. At Philadelphia, Former Maple Leafs defenseman Brian Leetch scored two goals, including the game winner in the third period, and added an assist to lift Toronto.
ROAD/HOME RECORDS: Flyers - 0-0-0-0 on the road; Maple Leafs - 0-1-0-1 at home.
Gagne and Forsberg look to continue their high-scoring partnership for the Flyers as they visit the winless Toronto Maple Leafs.
The additions of former NHL MVP Forsberg, defensemen Derian Hatcher and Mike Rathje, and rookies Mike Richards and Jeff Carter made Philadelphia an early favorite to win its first championship in 30 years.
Forsberg, Philadelphia's biggest offseason acquisition, has four assists in two games with three coming on goals by Gagne.
"He sees me pretty well on the ice. He's amazing," Gagne said. "He finds me everywhere. He's fun to play with."
Gagne scored twice and Jon Sim had the go-ahead goal, leading the Flyers to a 5-2 victory over visiting New Jersey on Friday.
Michal Handzus and Turner Stevenson also had goals for Philadelphia, which plays four of its first five games this season at home.
Toronto, still searching for its first win, has struggled defensively in three games, allowing 14 goals.
Dany Heatley scored the lone goal in the shootout to give Ottawa a 6-5 victory over the Maple Leafs on Monday.
Tie Domi, Clark Wilm and Nik Antropov all scored in a 1:55 span in the third period to erase a 4-2 deficit and give the Maple Leafs a one-goal lead with just over 12 minutes to play in the third period. Ottawa, however, got the equalizer less than two minutes later.
"I was proud of how our guys bounced back," Maple Leafs coach Pat Quinn said. "It would be easy to accept what was going on. We were up earlier in the game as well and gave it up. We'll just have to find a way to play better."
Bryan McCabe and Darcy Tucker added power-play goals for Toronto. Tomas Kaberle had three assists for the Leafs, giving him a team-high five points.
STANDINGS (through Oct. 9): Flyers - 8 points, 2nd place (tied), 2 PB, Atlantic Division. Maple Leafs - 6 points, 4th place, 5 PB, Northeast Division.
TEAM LEADERS: Flyers - Gagne, 3 goals; Forsberg, 4 assists and 4 points; Sim, 6 PIM. Maple Leafs - Domi, Bryan McCabe, and Antropov, 1 goals; Kaberle, 5 assists and 5 points; Aki Berg, Bryan McCabe, Alexei Ponikarovsky and Darcy Tucker, 4 PIM.
SPECIAL TEAMS (through Oct. 9): Flyers - Power play: 6.7 percent (1 for 15), 28th in NHL. Penalty killing: 69.2 percent (9 for 13), 28th. Maple Leafs - Power play: 11.8 percent (2 for 17), 22nd (tied). Penalty killing: 77.8 percent (7 for 9), 19th (tied).
GOALTENDERS: Flyers - Robert Esche (0-1-0, 0 SO, 5.08 GAA); Antero Niittymaki (1-0-0, 2.00). Maple Leafs - Ed Belfour (0-1-1, 3.39); Mikael Tellqvist (0-0-0, 0.00).
2003-2004 SEASON SERIES: Maple Leafs, 3-1-0-0.
LAST MEETING: March 18, 2004. At Philadelphia, Former Maple Leafs defenseman Brian Leetch scored two goals, including the game winner in the third period, and added an assist to lift Toronto.
ROAD/HOME RECORDS: Flyers - 0-0-0-0 on the road; Maple Leafs - 0-1-0-1 at home.
