PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 20 -- After a fight-filled first period, the Philadelphia Flyers and New York Rangers settled down Thursday night and skated to a 2-2 tie in an exhibition game that was called after two periods as teams and fans watched an address to the nation by President Bush.
During the second intermission, the video screen at the First Union Center televised the speech regarding the country's course of action in response to last week's terrorist attacks.
Both teams watched the end of the address from their benches and the fans chanted, "leave it on." New York coach Ron Low and Philadelphia coach Bill Barber both agreed to end the game and the teams shook hands at center ice.
Philadelphia rested newly acquired center Jeremy Roenick as well as left wing John LeClair and defenseman Eric Desjardins. The Flyers tied the score, 2-2, when Mark Recchi lifted a wrist shot over goaltender Dan Blackburn with 3:15 left in the second period.
New York captain Mark Messier did not make the trip, nor did former Flyer captain Eric Lindros, who scored in Wednesday's 6-1 win over the New Jersey Devils.
The Rangers tied the score, 1-1, when Mikael Samuelsson scored a power-play goal with 9:40 left in the first period. Barret Heisten gave New York the lead with 59 seconds to go in the session when he put a rebound of Sean Gagnon's shot past Brian Boucher.
The teams combined for 96 penalty minutes in the opening period, including 10 fighting majors and four game misconducts.
