Ron Hextall

Ron Hextall became the first Philadelphia goaltender to record back-to-back shutouts since Bernie Parent in 1975, stopping 21 shots in a 3-0 victory over the visiting Hartford Whalers Monday. Eric Lindros had a goal and two assists to exceed 100 points for the first time in his career. Teammate Mikael Renberg, bothered by a recurring abdominal injury, was advised to take 10 to 14 days off.

Here's what an easy night Philadelphia Flyer goaltender Ron Hextall had Friday at The Pond: A Mighty Duck sends a harmless popup toward Hextall, who snares the puck and calmly deposits it behind the net like so much garbage. Here's what a tough night Hextall had: Another Duck fires a point-blank shot, forcing Hextall to snap his right leg out awkwardly to make the save. Hextall lies on the ice, his right hamstring throbbing in pain. Strange game.

Ron Hextall made 25 saves and assisted on the game-winning goal as the Philadelphia Flyers beat the Washington Capitals, 2-1, Wednesday night in their home opener at Philadelphia. John LeClair and Rod Brind'Amour got the Philadelphia goals, with Hextall assisting on Brind'Amour's goal at 9:24 of the third period. Hextall carried a shutout well into the third period, when Sergei Gonchar got the Capitals' only goal on a power play at 14:20.

At the end of the New York Rangers' first-round series with the Quebec Nordiques, the Madison Square Garden crowd had chanted, "We want Hextall." Wednesday night, they got him. Or, more accurately, he got them. Ron Hextall was greeted with derisive chants of "Hex-tall! Hex-tall!" by fans who hoped to see the goaltender who faded quickly while with the New York Islanders in last year's four-game sweep by the Rangers, then en route to the Stanley Cup.

Ron Hextall, ineffective in goal when the New York Islanders were humiliated by the rival New York Rangers in last season's playoffs, was traded to the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday. Hextall was packaged with a sixth-round draft choice in 1995 for 25-year-old goalie Tommy Soderstrom. "I don't think anybody can work harder than Ron Hextall," said Islander General Manager Don Maloney in announcing the trade. "He had a slow start and a disastrous finish here, and New York's a tough town."

Ron Hextall served notice before the opening faceoff that he was taking nothing from anybody, jawing with Philadelphia Flyer forward Claude Boivin at center ice. Philadelphia's Dave Brown came over. New York's Mick Vukota followed, and suddenly all 40 players were against the boards. That done, Hextall took the rest of the evening personally. He stopped 23 shots in his third consecutive shutout at Uniondale, N.Y., where the Islanders beat Philadelphia, 2-0.

As recently as four years ago, Ron Hextall was rated the top goaltender in the NHL. Injuries and illness have hampered the Philadelphia Flyer in the last couple of seasons. Although he appears to be on the upswing again, Philadelphia fans boo him constantly, so it is not surprising that Hextall, 27, plays some of his best games on the road. Hextall stopped 30 shots Saturday at Quebec to lead the Flyers to a 3-0 victory, ending a 10-game road winless streak.

Three years ago, goaltenders Ron Hextall, Grant Fuhr and Tom Barrasso were all in their prime. Last season was a disaster for all three, mainly because of injuries. Early this season, all were out of action. Fuhr, who led the Edmonton Oilers to several Stanley Cups, was suspended a year because of drug use. Hextall suffered a series of injuries. Barrasso had injuries and a slump setting him back.

Ron Hextall, playing for the first time since Oct. 27, stopped 29 shots to lead the Philadelphia Flyers to a 5-4 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks Sunday night at Chicago. Hextall injured ligaments in his left knee against the New York Islanders six weeks ago. He had lost his first three decisions before the injury, and the victory was his first since Feb. 22. Hextall was at his best in the second period, making 17 saves as the Flyers, who ended a three-game losing streak, were outshot 18-4.