clarinews@clarinet.com (JOE CIALINI, UPI Sports Writer) (01/12/90)
PHILADELPHIA (UPI) -- The Philadelphia Flyers refused to promise Al Secord they would protect him in the NHL waiver draft, so he signed with the Chicago Blackhawks as a free agent before the season. He might have made Philadelphia regret that decision Thursday night when he scored three goals, two in the third period, to give Chicago a 5-4 victory over the Flyers, who lost their third straight home game. ``Every game is a big game for me,'' said Secord, who played in 34 games with the Flyers last season after he was acquired in a trade from Toronto. ``I sat out quite a bit early in the season. Lately, I've gotten an opportunity to play more and get (Coach) Mike Keenan's confidence. It's nice to know I have his confidence.'' The feeling is mutual. ``He was hungry for the win,'' Keenan said. ``He was shooting the puck hard and shooting it well. He's found the mark and he's regained some of the confidence he once had.'' Secord broke a 3-3 tie at 6:07 of the third period with his 10th goal of the season, with a little help from Philadelphia goaltender Ken Wregget. Secord launched a slap shot from just outside the blue line. Wregget gloved the puck but could not hold it, allowing it to fall to the ice behind him and trickle into the net. ``It was just one of those things,'' Wregget said. ``I went up to glove it and it tipped off of my glove. He got a heck of a shot off.'' The Blackhawks, who held a 2-1 lead entering the third period, improved their record to 19-0-2 when they lead after two periods. ``That's the kind of stat we had with the Flyers,'' said Keenan, who coached in Philadelphia for four seasons. ``It takes intensive effort, concentration and a lot of confidence. And a team has to be fit to play hard to be successful in the latter stages of any game.'' Philadelphia, meanwhile, dropped to 0-13-1 when it trailed going into the third period and lost for the sixth time in its last eight home games. ``We need to start winning at home to have something to build on,'' defenseman Jeff Chychrun said. ``Everyone seems to be getting the last goal on us. We keep trying and trying and frustration can set in pretty easily.'' Chicago took a 5-3 lead on an empty-net goal by Jeremy Roenick, his 11th goal of the season, at 19:01 of the third period. Philadelphia closed within 5-4 on Kerry Huffman's first goal of the year at 19:23. Chicago tied the score 3-3 on Secord's ninth goal of the season at 4:08 of the third period. ``I just thought it was a nice time to come to the Hawks,'' said Secord, who also played in Chicago from 1980 until 1987. ``(Flyers General Manager) Bobby Clarke couldn't guarantee that I would be protected. I didn't want to end up in the waiver draft and play somewhere I didn't want to go. I wanted to have control over my destiny.'' Ron Sutter came down the slot, took a pass from Murray Craven, who was behind the net, and beat Chicago goaltender Alain Chevrier for his 15th goal of the season, giving Philadelphia a 3-2 lead at 1:15 of the third period. At that point, however, the game was delayed about five minutes because a pane of broken glass had to be replaced and the interruption seemed to rob Philadelphia of any momentum. ``It slowed them down,'' Chicago's Dirk Graham said. ``It was a lucky break for us. They had the momentum and we were back on our heels. We were able to regroup, get our wits about us and come back.'' The Flyers tied the score 2-2 only 26 seconds earlier when Brian Propp redirected a slap shot by Kjell Samuelsson into the net for his eighth goal of the season. Adam Creighton gave the Blackhawks a 1-0 lead at 15:10 of the first period after Philadelphia's Mike Bullard gave the puck away to Steve Konroyd. Graham passed to Creighton in front of the net and Creighton's first shot was stopped by Wregget, who could not control the rebound. Creighton knocked the loose puck into the net for his 22nd goal of the season. Chicago went ahead 2-0 on a goal by Secord at 18:33 of the first period as the Blackhawks took advantage of another Philadelphia mistake. Huffman's clearing pass went right to Secord and he beat Wregget with a wrist shot. Philadelphia closed within 2-1 on Sutter's 14th goal of the season at 19:26 of the first period. Sutter tipped a slap shot by Samuelsson past Chevrier.