Flyers, Beezer Beat Blues

It was one of those nights when the Philadelphia Flyers played so poorly, they wondered how they won.

Two words: John Vanbiesbrouck.

The Flyers goaltender stopped 30 shots, making Colin Forbes' decisive goal on a deflection stand up for a 2-1 victory over the St. Louis Blues on Tuesday night.

"He made a couple of really spectacular saves," said Philadelphia star Eric Lindros, held without a goal for the second consecutive game. "He has a real calming effect on our club."

The Atlantic-leading Flyers won for the first time in three games after losing to New Jersey and tying the Rangers on Saturday. Outshot for the first time this season and held to 1-for-9 on the power play, they relied on a stellar performance by Vanbiesbrouck.

But the Flyers lost valuable defenseman Eric Desjardins with a groin injury late in the first period. Desjardins, who got hurt while chasing the puck, could be out as long as two weeks, team doctor Arthur Bartolozzi said.

"He's huge back there," Lindros said. "We want him back as soon as possible, but we want him back healthy."

Forbes deflected a nonchalant shot by Dan McGillis 28 seconds into the second period for the decisive goal, his third of the season. His weight on the wrong foot, McGillis casually dumped the puck toward the goal, and Forbes tipped it through Jamie McLennan's pads for a 2-1 lead.

"It was just deflection goal that kind of found its way through me," McLennan said.

McGillis also was involved in the real highlight of the game -- Scott Pellerin's glass-shattering check three minutes into the third period.

Pellerin's jarring check broke a pane of glass and sent it spraying into the Blues' penalty box. St. Louis star Chris Pronger, in the box for elbowing, got a glass shower but was OK.

A fan was slightly bloodied, but gave a thumbs-up when he saw himself on TV. Play resumed after a 10-minute delay.

Pronger said. "I heard a big crash and just buried my head and tried not to get anything in my eyes."

After Pierre Turgeon gave the Blues a 1-0 lead four minutes into the first, Rod Brind'Amour tied it with his fourth goal -- all on power plays -- with 3:32 left in the period. John LeClair's pass went right between Lindros' legs to Desjardins, who ripped a slap shot that was stopped by McLennan. Brind'Amour picked up the rebound and put it over McLennan's stick into the top right corner.

A minute after Turgeon's goal, Vanbiesbrouck stopped him on a point-blank shot. He made a spectacular save four minutes into the second, flailing backward and deflecting Scott Young's close shot with his glove as the Blues outshot the Flyers 31-20.

Vanbiesbrouck didn't talk much about his goaltending, but the Flyers did. On this night, they knew he saved them.

"Somehow he got his glove up and chipped it over," Lindros said. "He's calm back there."

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