Gagne Nets Three in Preseason Opener

[Jlg-28]

Source: TSN.com

This is exactly what the NHL was hoping for.

Simon Gagne recorded a hat trick and Jon Sim collected two goals and an assist as the Philadelphia Flyers posted a wild 8-6 victory over the Atlanta Thrashers at the John Labatt Centre.

Aiming to bring more scoring to the game to appease fans, the NHL instituted a number of rule changes, including the elimination of the red line to allow breakout passes. The style of play the league envisioned became reality Saturday as the Flyers carried a 6-2 lead into the third period, which featured six more tallies.

Gagne gave Philadelphia a 2-1 lead in the first period, opening the scoring with a shorthanded goal before snapping a tie at 11:09. He completed his hat trick with 17 seconds remaining in the third, scoring into an empty net to seal the win.

Sim put the Flyers ahead, 5-1, at 3:14 of the second period and tallied again 7 1/2 minutes into the third after Brad Larsen and J.P. Vigier - who also scored in the first period - netted goals less than a minute apart to draw the Thrashers within 6-4.

Defenseman Kim Johnsson and newcomers Turner Stevenson and Mike Knuble also scored goals for the Flyers, while 2003 first-round pick Mike Richards collected three assists.

Larsen and defenseman Mark Popovic each had a goal and an assist for the Thrashers, who played without star right wing Marian Hossa.

Injuries prevented Peter Forsberg, Sami Kapanen and defenseman Derian Hatcher from playing for Philadelphia. Kapanen (shoulder) is expected to miss at least 10 weeks, while Forsberg (ankle) and Hatcher (knee) are questionable to start the regular season

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Nice o post post game recaps again