Cechmanek leads Flyers to shutout over Blues

ST. LOUIS -- Roman Cechmanek stopped 30 shots for his third shutout of the season and Chris Therien scored a shorthanded goal as the Philadelphia Flyers beat the St. Louis Blues 5-0 Saturday night.

It was the second shutout in four starts for Cechmanek, who also blanked Toronto Jan. 19. He has a 4-0 career record against the Blues.

The Flyers scored on two of their first four shots in the first period, and then victimized goalie Fred Brathwaite again for two goals on their first four opportunities of the third.

Brathwaite made his second start ahead of Brent Johnson, who had been in the net 14 of the previous 15 games.

Keith Primeau had a goal and reached 300 career assists with his second of the night.

Kim Johnsson, Justin Williams and John LeClair also scored for the Flyers, who lead the Eastern Conference with a 33-15-6-2 record and 74 points. The Flyers also beat the Blues 6-3 at Philadelphia Dec. 18, sweeping the season series for the second straight time.

The Blues' highlight was a slap shot by Al MacInnis, back in the lineup after missing three games with a bruised foot, that cleanly knocked the water bottle off the top of the net early in the second period.