
PHILADELPHIA (Reuters) - Mike Richards and Jeff Carter netted two goals apiece to spark the short-handed Philadelphia Flyers to a 6-2 victory over the visiting Tampa Bay Lightning on Monday.
Missing top forwards Danny Briere and Simon Gagne, the Flyers (7-4-1) nevertheless produced a second successive six-goal performance..
"Guys go out of your lineup and you wonder where you're going to get your production from -- two guys that produce a lot of offense for us," Flyers coach John Stevens told reporters.
"I think when that happens you ask the other guys to take advantage of opportunities."
Richards sparked the offense with an opening score at 8:29 in the first period and later put in a backhand in the second to run his season total to eight goals.
Scott Hartnell and Carter had back-to-back goals at the end of the first and beginning of the second to give Philadelphia a 3-0 lead.
Rookie David Laliberte converted a wrister before Carter added his second on a power play to cap Philadelphia's offense at 8:56 in the third.
Tampa Bay (4-4-4) center Steven Stamkos notched a goal for the sixth straight game, his 11th of the year, in the second while teammate Jeff Halpern recorded his first of the year with 5:03 remaining.
Those were the only two blemishes for Flyers goaltender Ray Emery, who finished with 26 saves.
Emery received strong support from his offense shortly after Philadelphia learned Gagne would be out for 6-8 weeks due to an abdominal injury joining Briere (leg) on the sidelines.
Laliberte stepped up with his second goal in as many games to become the first Flyer to score in each of his first two NHL games since Eric Lindros in 1992.
Carter and Richards ended seven, and six-game goal scoring droughts respectively.
(Writing by Jahmal Corner in Los Angeles; Editing by Alastair Himmer)