Flyers win, extend regular-season home streak vs Blackhawks

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — They weren’t exactly the Broad Street Bullies, but the Flyers got a rare victory Saturday by playing the kind of physical hockey for which the franchise used to be known.

Cam Atkinson had two goals and an assist, Joel Farabee chipped in three assists and the Philadelphia Flyers beat the Chicago Blackhawks 4-3.

Oskar Lindblom and Derick Brassard also scored for the Flyers, who won for just the fourth time in the last 25 games while continuing their home-ice dominance of the Blackhawks.

“It’s amazing when guys stick up for each other, it kind of brings everyone into the fight,” Atkinson said. “That’s what good teams do. When you support each other and stick up for each other, good things usually happen.”

Dylan Strome had a pair of goals and Alex DeBrincat also scored for the Blackhawks, who have lost five of seven. Kane had an assist, upping his team-leading totals to 39 assists and 56 points.

“Overall, I thought we battled,” Blackhawks coach Derek King said. “We played well, we just couldn’t hold on to that lead.”

The two proud franchises are near the bottom of the NHL standings, with the Blackhawks beginning the day with more points than only seven NHL teams and the Flyers last in the Eastern Conference’s Metro Division with just three teams in the league having fewer points.

Saturday’s game was a far cry from the 2010 Stanley Cup showdown when the Blackhawks won their fourth overall title and first of three in six years. But despite their records, the teams played a spirited contest — plenty of scoring, lots of big hits and stoppages that ended with helmets and sticks littered on the ice.

“It was like an old ’80s game at the old Spectrum, with scrums and everything after,” King said.

For a change,