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BOX SCORE
PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- Penguins coach Herb Brooks has been pleading
with his team lately to shoot the puck more to create scoring
chances.
|  | | Philadelphia's Dan McGillis leaps over falling Penguin Aleksey Morozov, left. |
Unfortunately for him, it was the Philadelphia Flyers who heeded
his advice Saturday night.
Mikael Renberg had a goal and two assists and Mark Recchi's
goal started a three-goal first period as the Flyers defeated the
Penguins 6-2 to extend their undefeated streak to six games
(5-0-1).
Recchi's 18th of the year, off a redirection past Penguins
goalie Jean-Sebastien Aubin, was the first of three goals in a 3:32
span of the opening period that sparked Philadelphia in a
dominating performance on both ends of the ice.
"The guys have committed themselves to shutting the opposite
team down," Recchi said. "With an explosive team like the
Penguins, we really had to concentrate on making sure that we
didn't allow odd-man rushes."
Philadelphia outshot Pittsburgh 40-24 to extend its home
unbeaten streak to 15 (12-0-3). The Penguins lost for the 11th
straight time at Philadelphia.
"I don't know if we had that real mental and physical jump
we've had since I've been here the first 15 games," said Brooks,
who replaced Kevin Constantine as Penguins coach Dec. 9.
Earlier in the week, Brooks had pleaded for his team to stop
passing so much and shoot more. It worked Friday night in a 5-2
victory over Toronto, but it was the Flyers who took advantage of
early scoring opportunities Saturday.
Philadelphia outshot the Penguins 9-1 at one point in the second
period before Matthew Barnaby's goal through goalie John
Vanbiesbrouck's legs with 2:23 left.
Keith Jones dashed any Pittsburgh hopes for a comeback, when his
fourth goal 26 seconds into the third gave the Flyers a 5-2 lead.
Aubin tried to clear a pass along the side boards out of the
offensive zone, but the attempt was blocked by John LeClair. He
passed the puck to the speeding Jones, who fired it into the empty
net.
"We played pretty strong right from the start," Flyers coach
Roger Neilson said. "The defense played well, kept the gaps
tight."
Renberg then scored his seventh goal of the year to cap the
scoring, while Vanbiesbrouck made 22 saves for his 350th career
victory.
"Nielson has them playing a pretty game and they go in and work
the boards pretty well," Penguins right wing Dennis Bonvie said.
One of the Penguins' lone highlights came in the first period,
when Jaromir Jagr got an assist off a beautiful behind-the-back
touch pass to Martin Straka for Straka's sixth goal of the season.
"Everyone has their weaknesses, and I guess ours is against
Philly," Jagr said. Earlier Saturday, he was voted to the All-Star
Game with a league-leading 1,020,736 votes.
Recchi's goal sparked the Flyers' early scoring outburst. Off a faceoff, Jody Hull scored 55 seconds after Recchi's game-opening score. Daymond Langkow added his 10th goal, giving the Flyers a 3-0 lead.
Recchi also assisted on Rod Brind'Amour's power-play goal in the second period.
"He's been amazing to watch this year. He was injured last year. This year he has been doing it all," Jones said. "He hits, scores, plays defense. He's an elite player in this league."
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ALSO SEE
NHL Scoreboard
Pittsburgh Clubhouse
Philadelphia Clubhouse
Millionaire Jagr wins voting for NHL All-Stars
RECAPS
NY Islanders 5
Boston 2
Buffalo 7
Ottawa 4
NY Rangers 5
Toronto 3
Washington 3
Atlanta 0
Detroit 5
Anaheim 3
New Jersey 4
Phoenix 3
Nashville 6
Chicago 3
Philadelphia 6
Pittsburgh 2
St. Louis 4
Vancouver 2
Calgary 3
Tampa Bay 2
Florida 4
San Jose 2
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Mikael Renberg gets the goal from the Rod Brind'amour assist.
avi: 803 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Mark Recchi scores the Flyer's first goal.
avi: 907 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Jody Hull scores the "surprise" goal for the Flyers.
avi: 967 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
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