Atkinson, Flyers extend home win streak against Blackhawks

PHILADELPHIA --Cam Atkinson scored twice and had an assist and the Philadelphia Flyers won their 16th straight regular-season home game against the Chicago Blackhawks, 4-3 at Wells Fargo Center on Saturday.

Joel Farabee had three assists, and Martin Jones made 26 saves for Philadelphia (17-28-10).
The line of Atkinson, Farabee and Derick Brassard (one goal) combined for seven points. It was their first game together since Nov. 10.
"I think we had our legs tonight, which always helps," Atkinson said. "I don't think our first period was anything special, but once we started making those plays and feeling good about ourselves and wanting the puck and wanting to make a difference, that's when things opened up for us."

Dylan Strome scored two goals for Chicago (20-28-8), and Kevin Lankinen made 23 saves.
The Blackhawks are 0-15-1 since last winning a regular-season game in Philadelphia, on Nov. 9, 1996. They did win the Stanley Cup in Game 6 of the 2010 Final at Wells Fargo Center.
"I thought we played a pretty good game," Chicago defenseman Seth Jones said. "We had a lead on the road at a tough building to play in. Up 3-2, we were feeling pretty good about our game. The last two goals that we gave up were unforced errors on our part."
Brassard tied the game 3-3 at 3:09 of the third when his shot from the right side off the rush got through Lankinen.
It was Brassard's first goal since Nov. 20, and came after he and coach Mike Yeo met to discuss his poor play in a 5-4 loss to the Minnesota Wild on Thursday.
"That's what we were looking for, accountability," Yeo said. "It's one thing to say it but you've got to go out and do it."

Brassard was playing his fourth game after three extensive absences for a hip injury sustained Nov. 23. He said playing with Atkinson and Farabee helped.
"It's the playmaking game of Farabee and the finish of Atkinson," Brassard said. "Tonight, we came out big for the team. We scored some key goals at some key moments in the game and those two guys were buzzing around."
Atkinson made it 4-3 at 8:28 when he finished a give-and-go with Farabee.
"I like to shoot the puck but we just support each other, that's the biggest thing," Atkinson said. "We talked about it before the game, being close and making those little five-foot plays. It was nice to finally get a couple goals as a line."
Oskar Lindblom made it 1-0 at 4:46 of the first period when he tipped a point shot by Travis Sanheim.
Kevin Hayes had an assist on the goal. He was playing his first game since having surgery Jan. 18 to remove fluid from the adductor region in his hip.
"Feel pretty good," Hayes said. "Lucky enough to get a few chances right away, get some confidence back. ... This is night and day compared to how I felt the previous 15 games I played."

Alex DeBrincat tied the game 1-1 24 seconds into the second period. Jonathan Toews won a face-off in the left side of the Flyers zone and kicked the puck to DeBrincat, who scored from the slot.
Strome made it 2-1 at 12:39 on a one-timer set up by Patrick Kane.
Atkinson scored to make it 2-2 at 15:28.
Strome put the Blackhawks ahead 3-2 at 18:02 when he got the puck back after Justin Braun blocked his shot, skated through the slot, and beat Jones over his glove.
"Obviously it's a tough way to lose," Strome said. "Have a lead going into the third, got to play better than we did."
The Blackhawks pulled Lankinen for an extra skater with 1:53 remaining in the third but were called for having too many men on the ice with 1:26 remaining. It was the second time that happened in the game after it occurred twice in the first period of their 4-3 overtime win against the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday.
"That's on me," coach Derek King said. "I can do a better job on the bench making sure these guys know exactly who is out there. That's my responsibility."
NOTES:Flyers defenseman Kevin Connauton was helped off the ice with 8:59 remaining in the third after being hit into the boards by Blackhawks forward Kirby Dach. Yeo did not have an update on his condition after the game. ... Hayes had three shots on goal in 16:13 of ice time. ... It was Strome's second multigoal game of the season; he scored three against the Detroit Red Wings in an 8-5 win on Jan. 26. ... DeBrincat's goal was the fastest from the start of a period for the Blackhawks this season.