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Knuble, Gagne lead charge as Flyers trounce Rangers

Sep 23, 2007 - 2:03 AM NEW YORK (Ticker) -- Mike Knuble and Simon Gagne were in midseason form for the Philadelphia Flyers.

Knuble scored two goals and set up another and Gagne added three assists as the Flyers skated to a 5-0 preseason victory over the New York Rangers on Saturday.

Two-thirds of Philadelphia's top line, Knuble and Gagne proved too much for New York to handle. A former Ranger, Knuble gave the Flyers a 2-0 lead with 6:20 remaining in the first period and capped the scoring midway through the third with a power-play goal.

Gagne, who led the Flyers with 41 tallies last season, set up both goals by Knuble as well as one early in the third by Steve Downie. Philadelphia's first-round pick in 2005, the 5-10, 192-pound Downie also leveled New York's Hugh Jessiman - who stands 6-6 - in a second-period fight.

Sami Kapanen scored a shorthanded goal and Mike Richards also tallied for the Flyers, who were outshot, 33-23. Scottie Upshall added two assists.

Kapanen, who opened the scoring at 12:15 of the first, had a chance to tally 3 1/2 minutes earlier. Awarded a penalty shot after being hooked from behind on a breakaway by defenseman Fedor Tyutin, Kapanen was denied by goaltender Henrik Lundqvist, who made a big glove save.

Martin Biron and Antero Niittymaki combined for the shutout for Philadelphia. Biron made six saves in the first period and 13 in the second before Niittymaki turned aside all 14 shots he faced in the third.

Lundqvist made 18 saves for the Rangers.