NHL Rookie's two goals key Flyers

Jim Vandermeer replaced ailing Joni Pitkanen and led the Flyers to a 3-1 win.
PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- Jim Vandermeer has the flu to thank for the first two-goal game of his NHL career.
With fellow rookie defenseman Joni Pitkanen sidelined, Vandermeer stepped into the Philadelphia Flyers' lineup and filled up the score sheet.
He scored the tying goal in the second period and put the Flyers ahead in the third of a 3-1 victory Saturday over the New York Islanders. Vandermeer played in Pitkanen's absence Thursday, when Pitkanen was a healthy scratch.
"We both know that it's a numbers game," Vandermeer said. "We take it day by day and we're not really sure who's in and who's not."
Coach impressed
Flyers coach Ken Hitchcock was impressed by Vandermeer's play and resolve, but it wouldn't have been enough to get into the game if Pitkanen was well.
"We have to make a decision on whether he is going to stay in the lineup because he is emerging," Hitchcock said. "Every game he plays, he is getting better and better."
Simon Gagne added a power-play goal for Philadelphia with 7:26 left and Robert Esche made 18 saves in his return from injury.
Philadelphia snapped a season-worst, five-game winless streak (0-1-2-2). The Flyers, the last team to lose at home, had dropped three straight there -- two in overtime.
Alexei Yashin scored his sixth goal in eight games for the Islanders.
Vandermeer entered his 44th NHL game with only three goals and left with his first multi-point game.
"It was definitely exciting. I didn't think I'd ever do that," Vandermeer said.
Long shot clicks
Jeremy Roenick carried the puck with speed and took it to the bottom of the left circle in front of Islanders goalie Garth Snow. Roenick then curled back and made a pass above the circle to Vandermeer, who sent a long shot through traffic to make it 2-1 at 6:18 of the third.
"He makes $8 million, he should make plays like that," Snow said of Roenick.
Roenick's assist gave him 635 in his career, snapping a tie Neal Broten and moving him into fifth place on the career list of American-born players. He also assisted on Gagne's first goal in 11 games.
Hurricanes 2, Bruins 1
BOSTON -- Radim Vrbata and Eric Staal scored goals and Kevin Weekes made 37 saves in Carolina's second straight win under new coach Peter Laviolette.
Glen Murray scored for Boston.