Flyers Are Making Their Move

The Philadelphia Flyers played like a team tuning up for a playoff run while the New York Rangers appeared to be thinking about their golf games.

Flyer goalie Brian Boucher stopped 25 shots and his teammates played a smothering defensive game in front of him as the Flyers beat the Rangers, 4-2, Wednesday night at New York.

Philadelphia moved within two points of Boston for the top spot in the Eastern Conference. The Flyers have two games in hand on the Bruins.

The Rangers remained three points behind Montreal and Washington, who are tied for the eighth and final playoff spot.

New York played a listless defensive game in front of rookie goalie Dan Blackburn, who played well in defeat.

“We did a lot of good things in our end,� Flyer Coach Bill Barber said. “You know when your team’s in trouble, and we weren’t in trouble all night long. They made some good attacks on rushes, but they got some lucky breaks too.�

Philadelphia took a 1-0 lead at 9:02 of the first period on Justin Williams’ 16th goal. Williams, standing just to the right of Blackburn, accepted a pass from behind the net from Marty Murray, then was stopped on a forehand shot before converting the rebound with his backhand.

“I was really happy with how I played,� Blackburn said.

“Two of the goals came on rebounds. I was feeling really good in the net.�

Chicago 4, Nashville 1--Steve Passmore, starting consecutive games for only the second time this season, made 16 saves for the Blackhawks at Chicago.

Mark Bell, Phil Housley, Tom Fitzgerald and Tony Amonte scored to help the Blackhawks take sole possession of fourth place in the Western Conference. Chicago has won two in a row.

Minnesota 4, Atlanta 2--Andrew Brunette made a triumphant return to Atlanta with a goal and an assist.

It was his first game at Philips Arena since the Thrashers left him unprotected in last summer’s expansion draft.

Brunette set up the first goal with a perfect cross-ice pass and scored the game-winner after a crafty move on goalie Frederic Cassivi.

New Jersey 4, Pittsburgh 3--Bobby Holik and Patrik Elias scored less than a minute apart to cap a three-goal, third-period comeback at Pittsburgh.

The loss cost the Penguins a chance to move within four points of the Eastern Conference’s final playoff spot.

New Jersey is 7-1-0-1 in its last nine games.

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Ottawa 4, New York Islanders 1--Martin Havlat scored two goals and had an assist and Patrick Lalime stopped 27 shots at Uniondale, N.Y., as the Senators won for the first time in five games.

The Senators moved to within two points of fourth-place Toronto in the Eastern Conference.

The Islanders have beaten Ottawa only once in their last 26 meetings (1-19-6).