EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey, 14 December 2003 — Sami Kapanen had a goal and two assists to help the Philadelphia Flyers battle back for a 3-3 tie at the New Jersey Devils on Friday.
The Flyers, who have lost just once in their last 19 games (13-1-5), were 2-0 down after the first period and needed a goal by Keith Primeau with less than seven minutes left in regulation to earn the single point.
Philadelphia out-shot the home side 40-21, but New Jersey goaltender Martin Brodeur made 37 saves to keep the Devils within six points of the Flyers in the Atlantic Division standings.
The teams were to meet again the next day in Philadelphia and tensions should be high after an altercation in front of the Devils net late in overtime.
Jay Pandolfo, Scott Niedermayer and Patrik Elias scored the goals for the Devils, while Donald Brashear got the second score for the Flyers in the second period.
Blues 3 Blue Jackets 2 (OT)
In Columbus, Doug Weight scored with nine seconds left in overtime to lift St. Louis to a win over the Blue Jackets.
Jamal Mayers and Keith Tkachuk also scored for the Blues, giving them a two-goal lead in the first period.
For Columbus, Andrew Cassels scored in the second period and Rick Nash tied the game with a power-play goal midway through the third.
Thrashers 6 Penguins 3
In Atlanta, Shawn McEachern and Marc Savard each had a goal and two assists to help the Thrashers beat Pittsburgh for their fourth win a in a row.
Slava Kozlov tied a franchise record by scoring in his fifth straight game, while Ben Simon, J.P. Vigier and Serge Aubin were also on target for the Thrashers.
Dick Tarnstrom, Rico Fata and Patrick Boileau replied but the Penguins lost their fifth straight game.
Panthers 4 Canadiens 2
In Sunrise, Florida rallied from a two-goal first-period deficit to beat the Montreal Canadiens. Matt Cullen, Olli Jokinen, Viktor Kozlov and Juraj Kolnik scored for the Panthers, who claimed their first win in seven games. Richard Zednik and Saku Koivu were on the mark for the Canadiens.
Rangers 3 Sabres 1
In Buffalo, Anson Carter grabbed a goal on a power play with 10 seconds left in the second period to help the Rangers to a 3-1 victory over Buffalo. Alexei Kovalev and Petr Nedved also scored to send the Sabres to their fourth straight loss.
Oilers 3 Coyotes 3
In Phoenix, Radek Dvorak tied the game on a power play with 7:46 left in the third period to help Edmonton take a point from the Coyotes. Ryan Smyth and Fernando Pisani also scored for the Oilers, who out-shot the Coyotes 42-21, including 5-0 in the extra frame.
Stars 1 Blackhawks 0
In Dallas, Bill Guerin scored the only goal of the game with 5:41 left in the third period to lift the Stars to their first win in six games, a 1-0 triumph over Chicago.
