FLYERS NEWS

The Flyers had won 4 in a row coming into tonight. Well make it 5 in a row, after a drubbing of the Colorado Avalanche at the Wachovia center tonight. Antero Niittymaki got another rare start in goal and delivered saving 29 of the 31 shots he faced. Meanwhile, Simon Gagne led the way offensively with a goal and 2 assists. Midway through the first period Paul Stastny scored for a 1-0 Avalanche lead. A couple minutes later Mike Knuble scored to knot it up at 1. Late in the period Jeff Carter scored yet another goal for a 2-1 lead. Just a little past midway through the 2nd period Joffrey Lupul and Mike Richards scored goals within minutes of each other for a 4-1 lead. Late in the period David Jones scored to cut it to 4-2. Finally early in the 3rd period Gagne scored to put it away for good, as the Flyers eventually hung on for a 5-2 win. So the Orange and Black move to 17-7-6 overall for 40 points and still 4th in the Eastern conference, and 2nd in the Atlantic division now just 2 points behind the Rangers.