Flyers Even Up Ducks

Eric Lindros made a sudden impact on the Philadelphia Flyers.

Lindros returned to the lineup and had three assists and John LeClair scored two goals as the Flyers rallied for a 3-3 tie against the Anaheim Mighty Ducks on Wednesday night.

"We've been eager to get him back," goaltender John Vanbiesbrouck said. "It was good to see him healthy. He's a force."

In a game in which all the scoring occurred in quick spurts during the second period, LeClair's second goal tied it at 3 with only four seconds remaining in the period.

"Anytime you can score at the end of a period, it's a huge lift," said LeClair, who scored five seconds after Jason Marshall was penalized for tripping.

Anaheim goalie Dominic Roussel had a busier night than Vanbiesbrouck, whose teammates' tenacious defense limited the Ducks to 11 shots after the first period and 21 for the game.

Roussel turned away 30 shots to remain undefeated (2-0-1).

Anaheim coach Craig Hartsburg was not pleased with his team's effort.

"The second goal was crucial to us. It let them back in the game," Hartsburg said. "It was a complete lack of effort in our end."

"When you play that team, you'd better come to play in your own end. We did, until it was 3-1," he said.

Three of Roussel's saves came in overtime as the Flyers kept the pressure on. Philadelphia coach Roger Neilson pulled Vanbiesbrouck with 6.seconds to go and a faceoff to the left of the Ducks' goal, but the Flyers couldn't work the puck for an open shot.

Following a scoreless first period, the teams exchanged quick power-play goals to trigger the explosive second. LeClair gave the Flyers a 1-0 lead at 1:13, assisted by Mark Recchi and Lindros. A little more than a minute later, Anaheim's Paul Kariya tied it up, netting passes from Teemu Selanne and Marty McInnis with a 20-foot straightaway shot.

Anaheim's Fredrik Olausson and Selanne scored 64 seconds apart to make it 3-1 with just over five minutes remaining in the period.

The Mighty Ducks managed only five shots in the period, but three got by Vanbiesbrouck. The Flyers defense came back to hold Anaheim to only two shots in the third period.

Philadelphia's penalty-killing units were particularly impressive. The Ducks managed only one shot on three power-play opportunities the one on which Kariya scored his sixth goal.

But the Flyers charged back. Eric Desjardins scored his fourth goal at 17:14 and LeClair put in the tying power-play goal at 19:56.

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