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Flyers force seventh game against Lightning

Simon Gagne scored with 1:42 left in the first overtime, giving the Philadelphia Flyers a thrilling 5-4 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday and forcing a seventh game in their National Hockey League semifinal series.

With his team facing elimination, Flyers coach Ken Hitchcock juggled his top line, putting center Jeremy Roenick with Gagne and Keith Primeau. The move paid huge dividends as Gagne and Primeau each scored twice and Roenick recorded a pair of assists.

"The whole line was unbelievable," Hitchcock said. "The line was for the most part unstoppable. We just got so many good efforts from people. We had a lot of people who didn't want the season to end and they wouldn't be denied."

"It might have been one of the best games I have ever been a part of," Roenick added. "It was one of the most exciting games I've ever played in. It was an awesome game."

The Lightning, who will host game seven today, were less than two minutes away from advancing to the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time. But Primeau tied it with 1:49 left in regulation after the Flyers pressed for the equalizer throughout the third period.

"This is what we play for," said Tampa Bay left wing Dave Andreychuk, who recorded two assists. "We play for a game seven in our building. We have to forget about this one. We have to realize it's one game now."

Primeau dug out the puck along the left boards and passed to Mattias Timander at the point. Nikolai Khabibulin made a kick save on Timander's shot, but the puck bounced along the crease and Primeau stuffed in the rebound for his team-high ninth goal of the playoffs.

"The man just continues to amaze me," Roenick said. "He continues to be the ultimate competitor, the ultimate captain and the ultimate leader. We are riding Keith's wave."

Late in the first overtime, Roenick missed a wraparound attempt, but the puck the caromed right to Gagne, who stuffed it into an open net, setting off a wild celebration.

"I think Khabibulin was looking a little more for J.R. to shoot," Gagne said. "The puck came right on my stick. I just shot as hard as I could and the puck went between his legs."

For most of the third period, it appeared the Flyers would be haunted by a trade they made with the Lightning two years ago.

Ruslan Fedotenko, who was dealt to Tampa Bay for a draft pick in 2002, tallied twice in a 2:18 late in the second period to give the Lightning a 4-3 lead in the seesaw affair.

Tampa Bay elected to sit back in the third period and was outshot 17-5. Khabibulin, who finished with 38 saves, frustrated the Flyers until Primeau tied it.

Gagne and Primeau tallied in the first period, giving the Flyers a 2-1 lead. The Lightning pulled even on LeCavalier's second goal of the game just 45 seconds into the second period.

Sami Kapanen's beat Khabibulin to the short side with a sharp angle shot from the left circle to give the Flyers a 3-2 lead with 7:12 left in the second.

Robert Esche stopped 25 shots for the Flyers, including five in the overtime.
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