[Chris]

The Atlanta Thrashers hoped to turn around recent losses against the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday night when they entered the Wachovia Center. Simon Gagne, Robert Esche, and company had some other plans for the visitors.

Gagne scored his second career hat trick, and Robert Esche kept the Thrashers offense at bay in a 4-3 victory, extending the Flyers home win streak.

Robert Esche made 28 saves during the course of the game, several of them could have easily bounced the other way on other netminders. The Flyers were able to continue the trend of recent success against the Atlanta Thrashers, they won three of the four meetings against Atlanta in 2003-2004 and are 7-1-2-0 all-time at home against the Thrashers.

Peter Forsberg added a goal and two assists to the scoresheet, upping his lead leading total. Simon Gagne also took the league lead in goals with his hat-trick tonight, his second career, and his first on home ice.

Gagne is really becoming the player that we've all expected him to be this season for the Flyers. He's matured quite a bit, and he seems to be at the top of his game both mentally and physically. This guy's going to be a huge key from now until the end of the season.

The Flyers next play Boston at home on Tuesday, the 8th of November.

[Jlg-28]

I missed the game because i was spending rare time with my son, but glad to see they picks up anohter win on this current homestand.