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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- Even Eric Desjardins isn't sure what
happened. But the Philadelphia defenseman will take the point.
|  | | Patric Kjellberg, top, David Legwand and the Predators had reason to celebrate after Kjellberg's third-period goal, but they couldn't hold the lead. |
Desjardins scored a fluke goal with 53.2 seconds left in the
third period to give Philadelphia a 1-1 tie with Nashville,
extending the Flyers' home unbeaten streak to 12 games Sunday
night.
"You know what?" Desjardins said. "To be quite honest with
you, I'm really not sure what happened."
Desjardins' slap shot from just inside the blue line bounced off
the chest of Nashville defenseman Karlis Skrastins, who was tied up
with Philadelphia's John LeClair in front of the net, and rolled
between the legs of goaltender Mike Dunham.
"I just put the puck at the net," Desjardins added. "It hit
one or two of their guys and ended up going inside the five hole.
It was lucky but we'll take it."
Patric Kjellberg had scored midway through the third period for
the Predators, who are winless in their last seven games (0-4-3).
But Nashville's performance impressed coach Barry Trotz.
"From our standpoint, that was a great game," Trotz explained.
"Luck be what it is, their goal was going wide and hits our guy in
the chest and falls down and goes into the net. But I was really
impressed with our kids."
It was the third straight win for the Flyers, who have gone
10-0-2 since last losing at home to Vancouver 5-2 Oct. 26.
Kjellberg scored his 10th goal of the year at 10:42 of the third
period, flipping the puck over Philadelphia goalie John
Vanbiesbrouck's glove side after taking a pass from Cliff Ronning,
who dug the puck out from behind the net.
"I think we frustrated the Flyers tonight," said Ronning.
"They'd probably be the first to admit that. Our guys won a lot of
battles against their big men."
Nashville outshot Philadelphia 3-2 in the overtime but Dunham
foiled two scoring opportunities by John LeClair, stopping his
backhander 1:28 into the period and his breakaway attempt with 1:30
left.
"We didn't play hard-work hockey, digging in the corners and
going to the net," said LeClair. "They (Nashville) did a good
job. They never quit."
Nashville missed three other scoring chances in the last 2:11 of
the second period. First, David Legwand tipped the puck wide of an
open net. Then Vanbiesbrouck kicked away Vitali Yachmenev's shot
from the doorstep before a rebound attempt by Randy Robitaille
bounced off the Flyer goalie's skate.
Nashville defenseman Kimmo Timonen, the team's second leading
scorer with 22 points, was scratched after suffering a lower
abdominal strain during the Predator's 2-2 tie with Colorado
Saturday night. He is listed as day-to-day.
Philadelphia had outscored the Predators, 10-1 in its two
previous wins over the second-year expansion team.
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ALSO SEE
NHL Scoreboard
Nashville Clubhouse
Philadelphia Clubhouse
 NHL West: Preds feeling growing pains
RECAPS
Phoenix 4
San Jose 3
NY Islanders 5
New Jersey 3
NY Rangers 5
Tampa Bay 4
Nashville 1
Philadelphia 1
Anaheim 3
Detroit 1
Ottawa 3
Edmonton 3
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