Winger

Center Jared Ross scored two of the Phantoms' three goals in the first period last night on the way to a 5-2 victory over the Springfield Falcons in an AHL game at the MassMutual Center. Right winger David Lalilberte scored the other goal in the period, between Ross' pair, as the Phantoms took a 3-0 lead. Center Nate Raduns increased the advantage to 4-0 when he scored the second period's only goal with five minutes left to play. Scott Munroe stopped 21 of 23 shots for the Phantoms.

The NHL will limit the length of leg pads worn by goaltenders this season to 38 inches, a length exceeded by more than one-third of all goalies last season, the league said yesterday. The restriction comes five years after a 12-inch limit was put on the width of leg pads along with restrictions on the size of goalies' jerseys, pants and gloves. Teams with goalies violating the rule will be fined $25,000. Mighty Ducks. Center Vaclav Prospal, Tampa Bay's leading scorer last season, agreed to a five-year contract with Anaheim for undisclosed financial terms.

While the Flyers were busily preparing yesterday for their exhibition opener against the New Jersey Devils tonight, general manager Russ Farwell remained optimistic that the team was close to signing right winger Rick Tocchet and goaltender Ron Hextall to new contracts. Farwell said that both deals are very close to being done. Tocchet's agreement is expected to be announced very soon. Farwell said that Hextall, who suffered four unrelated injuries last season and played in just eight games, underwent testing Wednesday to show that his groin and hamstring muscles were healthy.

Flyers season-ticket holders privileged enough to spend $90 a ticket for the NHL's weekend celebration should enjoy the rare sight of a puck going into the net. Time after time. As part of its 75th anniversary celebration, the National Hockey League three years ago awarded Philadelphia this season's 43d All-Star Game, which will be played today (Channel 3, 1:05 p.m.) at the Spectrum for the first time since 1976. There were 16 goals scored in last year's All-Star Game, won by the Campbell Conference, 11-5, and there are enough premier snipers back this season to at least approach that number.

ST. PAUL, Minn. - The NHL draft resumed Saturday morning, and the Western Hockey League supplied more top talent. The Edmonton Oilers made the first pick Saturday, taking defenseman David Musil to start the second round. The St. Louis Blues, without a first-round selection Friday, grabbed right winger Ty Rattie with the 32d pick. Musil and Rattie played in the WHL last season. The Oilers opened the draft Friday by taking center Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, the first WHL player to go first overall since 1996.

Germantown Academy has dominated the Suburban High School Hockey League the last two seasons, but its quest for the 1995-96 championship might be impeded by up-and-coming Council Rock. GA was 33-5 overall last season, repeated as league champion, and won the Flyers Cup for the second consecutive season. The Patriots, however, were hit hard by graduation. "We lost what I would consider our top eight players," said John Ioia, the team's 13th-year coach, whose squad reached the state Class AAA championship game before losing to Meadville, 4-1. That might open the door for Council Rock, which was eliminated by GA, 6-1, in the semifinals of the Flyers Cup last season.

Despite playing the recently completed season with three aging defensemen - Chris Pronger, Kimmo Timonen, and Sean O'Donnell - the Flyers continued to emphasize offense Saturday during the second and final day of the NHL draft in St. Paul, Minn. In the two days, the Flyers drafted six players - five forwards and one defenseman. After taking highly touted center Sean Couturier on the first day, the Flyers chose center Nick Cousins (third round, 68th overall); defenseman Colin Suellentrop (fourth round, 116th overall)

The Haverford High ice hockey team answered the doubts with determination, countered the boos with belief. "Everybody out there doubted us," senior captain and right winger Kevin Tallon said. "We were always the bottom dog. " The Fords (15-10-4) aren't barking from the bottom any more. They have qualified for the Flyers Cup, regardless of how they fare against Monsignor Bonner in the Eastern League Tier I championship series. In the best-of-three series, Haverford topped Bonner, 5-3, in Monday night's opener at the Skatium.

Eastern Conference ATLANTIC DIVISION Flyers Last season: 42-27-10-3 (97 points), second seed in the East. Coach: Ken Hitchcock, eighth NHL season, first with the Flyers. Forecast: The Flyers didn't spend a penny over the summer to sign anyone other than their own players, but the promotion of several prospects and the trade of goalie Brian Boucher to Phoenix for Michal Handzus and Robert Esche made the club better. There remains questions as to whether the defense and the goaltending of Roman Cechmanek are strong enough to beat some of the powers in the West.

The Chicago Blackhawks are leaning toward keeping the No. 1 pick in tomorrow's NHL draft, general manager Dave Tallon said. He also told reporters that they have narrowed their list to three. Of course, the question is which one of the three - believed to be right winger Patrick Kane, left winger James vanRiemsdyk and center Kyle Turris - will they select. "It's just down to the order," Tallon told the Chicago Tribune. "We'll have them meet with a sports psychologist and decide for sure [tonight]