NEW YORK, 18 January 2004 — Keith Primeau scored in his first game since breaking his thumb on Jan. 2 to propel the Philadelphia Flyers to a 4-1 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs Friday.
The host Flyers, without a victory during Primeau’s absence, jumped into a 3-0 lead before the first period was 12 minutes old, chasing netminder Ed Belfour from the goal in favor of Trevor Kidd.
The Maple Leafs could not respond against the Flyers, who won 7-1 in Toronto in their previous meeting.
The Flyers were clearly boosted by Primeau’s return, winning for the first time in seven games.
Patrick Sharp, Tony Amonte and Primeau tallied in the first period to chase Belfour and John LeClair followed up with a fourth goal in the second session.
In Columbus, Rick Nash scored twice, including the winner in overtime, as the Blue Jackets edged the Los Angeles Kings 3-2. Columbus snapped an eight-game home losing streak as Nash recorded his league-leading 27th goal of the season with less than two minutes remaining in the extra period, chipping a shot over goalie Roman Cechmanek’s shoulder.
In Detroit, Henrik Zetterberg scored with 1:44 left in the third period to lift the Red Wings to a 3-3 tie with the Phoenix Coyotes.
Kris Draper and Chris Chelios also tallied for the Wings, who have one win in four games. Brian Savage, Daymond Langkow and Fredrik Sjostrom replied for the Coyotes, who are winless in four. Steve Yzerman became only the seventh player in NHL history to reach the 1,700-point plateau.
In Atlanta, Jeff O’Neill notched a hat trick to earn the Carolina Hurricanes a 4-3 win over the Thrashers. Kevyn Adams also scored while Pavel Brendl picked up two assists to clinch Carolina’s first win in four games.
In St. Paul, Antti Laaksonen capped a four-goal third period to give the Minnesota Wild a 4-2 triumph over the Pittsburgh Penguins. Andrew Brunette, Alexandre Daigle and Filip Kuba also scored for the Wild, who earned their first win in four games.
