FOR CECHMANEK, NO MORE CHILLY PHILLY.

Byline: MATT McHALE NHL 

EL SEGUNDO - It was a good thing Roman Cechmanek didn't go looking for hugs Monday afternoon when he passed the Philadelphia Flyers' practice on his way home.

There weren't any.

Unlike Felix Potvin, who was warmly greeted by former teammates when he returned Friday with the Boston Bruins, Cechmanek was passed like a guy changing a tire on a freeway.

Those contrasting moments, just four days apart, said a lot about the up- and-down life of goaltenders in the NHL. It said even more about the difference between hockey in Philly and L.A.

Potvin got the Kings to the second round of the postseason once in three years and is remembered fondly. Cechmanek did the same with the Flyers for three seasons and was booed out of town.

``He is a good guy, but it probably was in his best interest and ours,'' Flyers winger Mark Recchi said. ``It is a great situation in L.A. It's quiet, and the focus is not so much on hockey.''

But the divorce was so painful Cechmanek stopped an interview four times Monday to say he didn't want to talk about the Flyers. Then he just kept talking.

``I'm just glad it is over,'' he said several times after preparing for tonight's reunion at Staples Center.

Cechmanek has a career 1.96 goals-against average during the regular season, the lowest by an NHL goaltender with at least 150 games since 1944. But for the Flyers and their outspoken general manager Bobby Clarke, the playoffs are all that matter.

Clarke was the star of the Flyers' last Stanley Cup championship team in 1975. As GM, he has fired a lot of coaches and ripped even more who were trying to get Philly another Cup.

The Kings want to win, but they don't have that kind of fanatical expectation.

When the Flyers lost to Ottawa in the first round two years ago, Clarke needed a villain. When Cechmanek struggled against the Senators last May, Clarke blasted him immediately, saying he would not be back.

It didn't matter Clarke broke every GM rule by torching a player he was ready to trade. He took a second-round pick from the Kings in last June's draft when he probably could have received much more.

``It never seems to come up that the Flyers scored two goals in that first series,'' Kings coach Andy Murray said. ``I don't think we'd be talking about this if they hadn't. You don't win a lot of series that way.''

But it is important to note Cechmanek did play a role in his departure. Some of it was his fault, much of it wasn't.

His unconventional style was a fan favorite at first, but sometimes left him vulnerable to rebounds.

In the 2003 playoffs, he won his first playoff series in three attempts by shutting down Toronto, giving up four goals in the final three games. In the Ottawa series, Cechmanek had two shutouts before the Flyers fell apart in the last two games, losing 5-2 and 5-1. Cechmanek had been critical of teammates, saying they did not work very hard.

A leader often can emerge by making such remarks, but Cechmanek also was viewed as a player who relied much more on talent than work ethic. His comments created a huge divide with the rest of the team.

The Flyers had few players that shared Cechmanek's Czech background. When his wife, Dagmar, took the kids back to their homeland during last season's playoffs, there was no one to share his pain. Often he was seen after games frantically trying to reach her on his cell phone.

``It was a very hard time,'' Cechmanek said. ``People treat me great here. There is none of that stuff here.''

It would have helped if the Flyers' power play hadn't been 0 for 12 through the first five games. But Cechmanek's record during last year's playoffs was 1-5 after a victory with a 2.73 GAA and a lowly save percentage of .888. Fans were relentless in their criticism. After he was pulled last year from Game 5 against the Senators, Cechmanek said, ``I know they hate me.''

Clarke seemed to be one of them.

``He shuts a team out one night,'' Clarke said, ``but when you get down to the nitty gritty and you let a soft goal in, it takes a lot out of your team emotionally.''

Game 6 was the end of the line.

Trailing 1-0 in the second period, Cechmanek dropped his glove during a Flyers power play. Ottawa's Mike Fisher took a long slap shot while Cechmanek was bending over and scored a shorthanded goal.

Even in defeat, coach Ken Hitchcock tried to stay upbeat. He met with Cechmanek and the tone was positive. But unbeknownst to the coach, Clarke was telling the hockey world his goaltender was history.

Today, the Flyers are undefeated and new goaltender Jeff Hackett has two shutouts.

But Hackett has played 50 games in just three of 13 seasons. Cechmanek did it twice in three years and played 46 in the other.

Murray knows the final grades won't come until the playoffs. He said he doesn't know much about Cechmanek's game this early in the season. But he knows the player. As he always does, Murray did a lot of homework in the summer, talking to scouts and former Flyer Marty Murray, who just happens to be his nephew.

It also is no coincidence the Kings stocked their training camp with 12 Czechs and Slovaks to ease the transition.

``He has the support of everyone here,'' Murray said. ``And the fans love him already.''

Matt McHale, [phone]

matt.mchale(at)dailynews.com

CAPTION(S):

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Box:

(1) WHAT'S ON

Philadelphia at Kings

(2) FROM THE BLUE LINE

By Matt McHale

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- Matt McHale