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Flyers Snap Leafs Win Streak


The Philadelphia Flyers may have finally solved their problem at right wing, and Keith Jones couldn't be happier.

Jones, acquired from Colorado on Nov. 12 and immediately put on the Eric Lindros-John LeClair line, continued his torrid scoring with a goal and two assists as the Flyers snapped Toronto's three-game winning streak 4-3 Friday.

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  • "There's no where else in the league that I would rather be right now," said Jones, who was obtained for Shjon Podein to add some offensive punch and toughness to the former "Legion of Doom" line that has suffered ever since Mikael Renberg was traded to Tampa Bay two years ago.

    Jones has scored eight points in five games for Philadelphia since the trade. The Flyers have won all five of those games, although Jones missed their 4-2 loss to the New York Islanders on Wednesday with a bruised left knee.

    Lindros and Leclair each had a goal and two assists. LeClair's game-winner during a wild second period tied him for the NHL lead with 14 goals.

    Jones called Lindros and LeClair the two best power forwards in the NHL.

    "There's no comparison to these guys," Jones said. "It's fun watching them and I'm just glad to get the chance to score."

    Lindros said that he has been impressed by Jones' work ethic.

    "Keith is as important as anyone on this line," Lindros said. "He has helped us all score."

    Rod Brind'Amour also scored for Philadelphia, which has won five of its last six games.

    Igor Korolev and Todd Warriner each had a goal and and an assist and Dimitri Yushkevich also scored for the Maple Leafs, who missed a chance for their longest winning streak in four years.

    John Vanbiesbrouck
    John Vanbiesbrouck makes a save and was aided by the scoring punch of Eric Lindros and Keith Jones. (AP)

    Toronto coach Pat Quinn described Jones as a "gritty guy" who fits in well with the Flyers

    "Jones has always been a great role player," Quinn said. "He is sure filling his spot with Philadelphia."

    LeClair put the Flyers ahead for good at 4-3 at 19:11 of the second period. He picked up the puck behind the net and muscled a backhander past goaltender Curtis Joseph, who has lost seven of eight career decisions against the Flyers.

    Jones gave the Flyers a 1-0 lead at 10:41 of the first period by lifting the puck over Joseph during a scramble in front of the net.

    Jones has scored eight points in five games for Philadelphia since being acquired from Colorado on Nov. 12.

    Warriner tied the game for Toronto 40 seconds later, scoring his first goal of the season after taking a cross-ice pass from Korolev.

    Korolev, who has points in 10 of his last 14 games, made it 2-1 with a wrist shot from the slot at 9:24 of the second period - one of five goals in the period.

    Brind'Amour poked the puck in from the left of the crease at 12:31 to pull the Flyers even and Lindros scored on a backhander 1:33 later to put Philadelphia ahead 3-2. Lindros, who now has 301 career assists, entered the game tied for second in the NHL in scoring with 26 points.

    Yushkevich's slapshot from inside the blue line tied it 3-3 at 15:36 of the period.

    "They were just too strong for us," Warriner said. "We got beat along the boards. We didn't handle the puck like we should have."

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