``He's been doing that all year,'' winger Shjon Podein said. ``It was just another `Hexy night.' ''
Before the game, Hextall had a 2.09 goals-against average in the playoffs. One of his biggest saves last night came late in the third period, with the Flyers protecting a 3-2 lead. He turned away Lowry's deflection from right out front of a pass by Sheppard, and the Flyers held on the rest of the way.
``He gives the whole team confidence when he makes saves like that,'' defenseman Chris Therien said.
Said Hextall: ``We all came out and played a strong game. We had to.''
WHAT'S THE POINT? That's what Therien was asking himself going into last night's game. The big defensemen just couldn't explain why he was the lone Flyer, other than Hextall, to have played in every playoff game without picking up a point.
Therien, who had no points in 15 playoff games last season, said he'd had plenty of chances to score or assist on goals in the seven playoff games the Flyers had played this season. He had taken six shots. That was more than Shawn Antoski, Kjell Samuelsson, and Kevin Haller.
Therien had two particularly good shots on Florida goalie John Vanbiesbrouck in Thursday's 2-0 loss.
``My main job is to protect our net, to help out Hexy,'' he said. ``But you only get so many chances to score. I feel sort of snakebitten in that way.''
Therien had been pretty solid in his main job. He had been on the ice for only one even-strength goal against the Flyers in the playoffs, and had delivered some big hits.
``Defense is still his priority,'' Murray said. ``Anything he does in points is a bonus. And most defensemen only get two or three chances a game, unless you're Brian Leetch [of the New York Rangers].''
Therien had two shots and no points last night.
DRUCE TESTS KNEE. Flyers winger John Druce tested his sprained left knee and its new brace at yesterday's morning skate and said afterward that he was still a few days away from skating hard.
Druce, who had two assists in the first two games of the conference quarterfinals against Tampa Bay, injured the knee against the Lightning on April 18. He has missed the last six games.
