Somik's two goals help Flyers beat Panthers - NHL

SUNRISE, Fla. -- The Philadelphia Flyers already have plenty of scorers on their roster, but they might have discovered another one just in time for the playoffs.

Radovan Somik capped a strong finish to the regular season with two goals and an assist Sunday as he led the streaking Flyers to a 6-2 victory over the Florida Panthers.

Somik had four goals in his last four games after scoring only four times in his first 56.

"I've changed nothing," said Somik, who missed 22 games this season because of various injuries. "Just more luck. I try to shoot more and sometimes it goes in."

The Flyers ended the regular season on an eight-game unbeaten streak (6-0-2). Philadelphia won a franchise-best 24 road games.

"It's great for our confidence," John LeClair said. "We're confident the way we're playing right now and hopefully it can carry on into the playoffs."

Keith Primeau, Marty Murray, LeClair and Jim Vandermeer also scored for the Flyers, who will face Toronto in the first round.

Murray and Somik scored 15 seconds apart late in the first period to help the Flyers take a 3-0 lead.

"It was important to get off to a good start and set the pace," Primeau said.

Murray, Todd Fedoruk and Eric Chouinard combined for seven points after being healthy scratches in the Flyers' previous game.

Florida trailed 5-0 before Ivan Novolsetsev and Stephane Matteau scored. The Panthers finished with the worst home record (8-21-7-5) in franchise history, and scored a team-record low 176 goals.

"We were lackadaisical, not sharp," Panthers center Stephen Weiss said. "These guys want to win the Stanley Cup. They came out sharp and got a few right off the bat and that was it. Maybe if we had started better it would have been a different outcome."

Already assured of finishing fourth in the Eastern Conference, Philadelphia rested defenseman Eric Weinrich and forwards Mark Recchi, Tony Amonte, Sami Kapanen and Jeremy Roenick.

Robert Esche made 25 saves in his first start for the Flyers since March 24. Philadelphia finished tied with New Jersey for fewest goals allowed in the league (166). The teams goalies will share the Jennings Trophy.

"That's good stuff, that's really good stuff," Flyers coach Ken Hitchcock said. "The goalies get the award, but I think the goalies recognize, too, this is a team award. It means that when you're good defensively you know how to work. Our goaltending was good when we needed.

"Esche was terrific today. He made some big saves. We've had good goaltending all year."

Jani Hurme started in goal for Florida, but struggled despite finishing with 33 saves.

Primeau opened the scoring at 11:52 of the first period. Hurme left his crease to play a loose puck, but got tangled up with defenseman Ivan Majesky. Primeau got to the puck first and shot into an open net.

Murray made it 2-0 at 14:24 when he took a beautiful pass from Chouinard from behind the net and beat Hurme with a low shot.

Fifteen seconds later, Somik scored after picking up a loose puck in the slot and beating Hurme.

LeClair made it 4-0 at 6:32 of the second period when he scored on a slap shot from the point on a power play. Hurme then let Vandermeer's slap shot from outside the blue line trickle through his glove to make it 5-0 at 8:18 of the second.

"We left this guy (Hurme) out to dry the first two periods," Florida forward Peter Worrell said. "It's too bad we didn't show up. We got our butts kicked."

Notes

Philadelphia tied a season high for first-period shots with 18.
Flyers RW Justin Williams saw his first action since sustaining a partial of a ligament in his left knee on Jan. 18 against Tampa Bay. Williams missed 36 games.
The Flyers have won six in a row at Florida since a 3-1 loss on Jan. 17, 2000.
The last game of the regular season drew Florida's sixth sellout crowd of the season.
Panthers RW Denis Shvidki missed the game because of a knee injury sustained Friday night against Carolina.

Florida vs. Philadelphia

Notes