Forsberg Can't Stop Flyers' Slide

The return of captain Peter Forsberg wasn't enough to help the hapless Philadelphia Flyers snap out of a franchise-record funk, while the Dallas Stars' first game without their injured captain

Thursday, December 28th 2006, 6:13 am

By: News On 6

The return of captain Peter Forsberg wasn't enough to help the hapless Philadelphia Flyers snap out of a franchise-record funk, while the Dallas Stars' first game without their injured captain was encouraging.

Philadelphia's losing streak hit 10 in a 3-1 loss to the Florida Panthers on Wednesday night with Forsberg back in the lineup after missing three games with a concussion.

With left wing Brenden Morrow back in Dallas recuperating from wrist surgery that will keep him out indefinitely, the Stars came from behind to beat the Colorado Avalanche 5-4.

At Sunrise, Fla., Rostislav Olesz scored 30 seconds into the game for the Panthers and the Flyers never recovered. Philadelphia hasn't won since Nov. 30.

Forsberg had a couple of good scoring chances but no points.

``It's been a while since I've been on the ice. I couldn't move for the longest time there,'' the All-Star center said. ``But it's good to be back. It's just too bad we didn't win the game.''

The Flyers couldn't convert on a 5-on-3 for 1:04 late in the third period and Ed Belfour finished with 23 saves for Florida.

``I thought we battled pretty hard,'' Forsberg said. ``But we've got to battle a little harder if we're going to win some games.''

In other NHL games, it was: Detroit 3, Minnesota 1; Atlanta 4, Pittsburgh 2; Ottawa 2, the New York Islanders 0; Montreal 4, Washington 1; and Vancouver 6, Calgary 5 in overtime.

Dallas rookie Chris Conner was recalled from Iowa of the AHL earlier in the day to replace Morrow and scored his first NHL goal.

Morrow was injured in a loss to the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday and underwent surgery to repair severed tendons in his right wrist.

The Stars were also without alternate captain Mike Modano (hip flexor), Eric Lindros (upper body injury) and Steve Ott (fractured ankle) and yet still found a way to earn the win at Denver.

``This after losing a heart and soul guy in Brenden,'' said Jeff Halpern, who had a goal and two assists. ``The young guys and the veterans balanced out well for us. The young guys got us started and the veterans finished it up.''

Trailing 4-3, Dallas got goals from Halpern and Sergei Zubov 1:16 apart early in the third period to give the Stars a lead they wouldn't give up.

Dallas goalie Marty Turco was his typically solid self _ especially of late _ stopping 28 shots and winning for the third time in his last four starts.

``We had a little bit of everybody tonight,'' Turco said. ``It was a great team effort.''

With Morrow missing for an indefinitely, that's the way the Stars have to play. Jere Lehtinen had a goal and two assists and Loui Eriksson scored his third goal of the season 2:57 into the game.

``We're going to have to cope with Brenden's loss as a team,'' Turco said. ``We'll adjust. We can't feel sorry for us.''

Thrashers 4, Penguins 2

Slava Kozlov scored the decisive goal in the third period to beat Pittsburgh for the second time in a week, and visiting Atlanta stretched its winning streak to five games.

The Penguins have lost five straight.

Kozlov got the game-winner, his 15th of the season, about 7 minutes into the third period on a wrist shot from along the goal line that got past goalie Marc-Andre Fleury inside the near post.

Kari Lehtonen stopped 35 of 37 shots and has turned away 162 of 173 during the streak.

Senators 2, Islanders 0

Ray Emery stopped 18 shots in his second shutout of the season and host Ottawa snapped Rick DiPietro's shutout streak at 156:30.

Mike Fisher scored his ninth goal late in the first period off DiPietro, who was coming off consecutive shutout victories against Columbus and the New York Rangers.

Chris Kelly gave Ottawa an insurance goal at 16:29 of the third period. The Senators won their second straight since losing leading scorer Jason Spezza.

Canadiens 4, Capitals 1

Mathieu Dandenault and Aaron Downey scored first-period goals and visiting Montreal won for the sixth time in seven games.

Saku Koivu and Sheldon Souray also scored and Guillaume Latendresse had two assists for the Canadiens.

Montreal goalie Cristobal Huet came within 2:56 of his 14th career shutout. Alexander Semin scored for Washington, which has lost two straight and four of five.

Red Wings 3, Wild 1

At Detroit, Dominik Hasek made 32 saves and Johan Franzen had a goal and an assist to lift the Red Wings.

It was Detroit's third consecutive game against Minnesota, and the Red Wings' second victory. Detroit won the first game and lost the second in overtime.

Kirk Maltby and Henrik Zetterberg also scored for the Red Wings.

Pavol Demitra got Minnesota's goal, and Niklas Backstrom stopped 30 shots.

Canucks 6, Flames 5

Sami Salo scored 2:46 into overtime and host Vancouver recovered from blowing a pair of leads to complete a home-and-home sweep of Calgary.

Salo's one-timer from the right point deflected off the stick of Flames forward Chuck Kobasew in the slot and went through Miikka Kiprusoff's legs, finally ending a wild, back-and-forth game that saw the Flames rally from a pair of two-goal deficits only to blow a late lead of their own.

Daymond Langkow gave Calgary its first lead with a power-play goal with 4:47 left, but Ryan Kesler answered on a rebound 67 seconds later for Vancouver.