Flyers oldies beat Rangers in alumni game

PHILADELPHIA -- It was Old-Timers' Day at Citizens Bank Park, but the golden oldies who came to play in this baseball stadium were hockey players.

On a day that was warmer than some baseball home openers, the theme was nostalgia as the Flyers hosted the Rangers Saturday in an alumni game that served as a prelude to Monday's Winter Classic between the current clubs.

And what would a game in this city be without the fans booing the visitors? A crowd of 45,808, with the vast majority wearing Flyers orange, jeered the Blueshirt old-timers during warm-ups and introductions.

The outdoor audience had plenty to cheer during the 3-1 win, not only with two-thirds of the Legion of Doom line connecting -- a John LeClair goal from an Eric Lindros feed at 9:30 of the first period on a two-on-one -- but especially the Flyers' goaltending, which has been an issue for the real team in recent seasons.

White-bearded and ancient-masked Bernie Parent, who played 5:32 at the start of the game, stopped all six Rangers shots. Mark LaForest, who once played for the Rangers in the minors, stopped all 16 of the shots he faced. Neil Little, the Flyers' third goalie, who played only one game for Philadelphia, stopped Glenn Anderson on a penalty shot after allowing Anderson's tip shot at 12:18 of the second period on assists from Darius Kasparaitis and Mark Messier.

And on the topic of goaltending, Dan Blackburn, playing with a second blocker instead of a glove as a result of nerve damage that prematurely ended his Rangers career, allowed only one goal on 16 shots, a third-period penalty shot by Mark Howe.

Win or lose, the atmosphere was what the players relished. In the locker room, a beer or two was passed around and players wished each other and the media season's greetings. Messier drew the biggest media scrum. It was a day to savor.

SEE PHOTOSLong Island in the pros: NHL edition

"When you grow up and play on smaller rinks, you don't have crowds like this," said former captain Dave Maloney, now an MSG broadcaster. "This was spine-tingling."

The only downside, he said, "was playing against Lindros and LeClair. I go in the corner and they start cycling. Oh, man. They're still good. I think I was out against them for eight of 10 shifts."

As noted by Blackburn, 28 -- who played only 63 games with the Rangers -- even though "it wasn't for real, to have 40,000-plus people show up while we're having fun . . . It was the highlight of my career."

Notes & quotes: The NHL fined Michael Del Zotto $2,500 for high-sticking Panthers forward Tomas Kopecky with eight seconds remaining in Friday's 4-1 win in Florida. Kopecky, who decked Del Zotto with a punch to the face from behind, also was fined $2,500 . . . Sean Avery cleared waivers and was assigned to the AHL Connecticut Whale . . . The Rangers will practice at Citizens Bank Park at 2:30 p.m. Sunday.