sleddy2008
04-21-2010, 03:07 AM
C/P from TSN.ca
PHILADELPHIA -- Jeff Carter scored two goals and Danny Briere had one to end their playoff scoring droughts and lead the Philadelphia Flyers to a 4-1 win over the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday night and a commanding 3-1 lead in their Eastern Conference playoff series.
"Everybody wants to chip in, everybody wants to do their part," Briere said. "It was frustrating in a sense that when you lose and you don't participate, you feel more responsible. It feels good, definitely, to help out the team."
Unlikely post-season star Daniel Carcillo scored his second goal in two games for the Flyers.
Game 5 is Thursday in New Jersey.
The Devils haven't won three straight games since they won five straight from Dec. 12 to 21.
The Flyers have won 17 of 19 playoff series when they hold a 3-1 lead. One of those blown leads came in 2000 in goalie Brian Boucher's rookie season. Ten years later and in his third stint with the organization, Boucher has them on the brink of advancing to the conference semifinal.
"I put all that behind me," Boucher said. "I'm not worried about what went wrong."
Martin Brodeur stopped 24 shots and made one of the great saves of his post-season career. He just didn't have enough help to beat a Flyers team that had the arena rocking all night long.
It took two stars to spark them.
Carter and Briere were held without a point in the first three games after combining for 114 this season. Carter led the Flyers in goals and Briere was third.
Without their production, the Flyers relied on clutch on goals from Chris Pronger and Carcillo to win Games 1 and 3. They will need goals from everyone to win games -- but they will need their top guys to stay hot to win series.
Carter went first, firing a wrist shot on the power play past a stunned Brodeur on the glove side to tie the game at 1 in the second period. Briere set him up with the assist, then gave the Flyers the lead they wouldn't relinquish.
Briere took a perfect pass from Braydon Coburn and scored from right above the circle for a 2-1 lead. He did it on a 4-on-4 and scored his most meaningful goal since he had one in the dramatic shootout season finale against the Rangers to put them in the playoffs.
Carter hadn't seemed himself after missing two weeks late in the season with a broken foot. He refused to use the injury as an excuse for his slump.
Simon Gagne is still without a goal -- but not from lack of effort.
Brodeur was out of position and extended head-to-toe on his left side along the crease. Gagne fired from perfect position in the slot, but his shot was snared by Brodeur's outstretched glove for the highlight-reel save of the series.
Even the Philly fans had to appreciate that one.
Gagne left the game in the third period with a lower-body injury and did not return. He appeared to take a slapshot in the foot-ankle area in the second period. Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren said Gagne would be examined again Wednesday.
That was about the only downer for the Flyers.
The Flyers put the victory away against the NHL's career wins leader in the third period. Carcillo, the brawler who scored the overtime winner in Game 3, stripped Colin White behind the net, whirled and scored to make it 3-1.
Carcillo had the crowd going wild and has become an instant playoff hero in Philadelphia. He hasn't totally strayed from his fighting roots -- he was hit with a 10-minute misconduct late in the game.
Briere knocked in a rebound midway through the third for a 4-1 lead. Brodeur lost his helmet and spit his gum onto the ice as the derisive chants of "Mar-ty! Mar-ty! Mar-ty!" only grew louder.
Boucher made 30 saves. His lone mistake came in the first period when Ilya Kovachuk scored for a 1-0 lead. That was all he allowed.
"We lost discipline in the second half of the third period," Devils coach Jacques Lemaire said. "Before that, I thought we were fine most of the game. We've got to score more goals."
The Flyers needed all 82 games just to make the playoffs. They can advance in the post-season in only five.
NOTES: The Flyers will show Game 5 live Thursday night at the Wachovia Center. Parking and admission are free. ... The Flyers needed this win. While they are 17-2 when holding a 3-1 series lead, they are only 13-6 when tied 2-2.
PHILADELPHIA -- Jeff Carter scored two goals and Danny Briere had one to end their playoff scoring droughts and lead the Philadelphia Flyers to a 4-1 win over the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday night and a commanding 3-1 lead in their Eastern Conference playoff series.
"Everybody wants to chip in, everybody wants to do their part," Briere said. "It was frustrating in a sense that when you lose and you don't participate, you feel more responsible. It feels good, definitely, to help out the team."
Unlikely post-season star Daniel Carcillo scored his second goal in two games for the Flyers.
Game 5 is Thursday in New Jersey.
The Devils haven't won three straight games since they won five straight from Dec. 12 to 21.
The Flyers have won 17 of 19 playoff series when they hold a 3-1 lead. One of those blown leads came in 2000 in goalie Brian Boucher's rookie season. Ten years later and in his third stint with the organization, Boucher has them on the brink of advancing to the conference semifinal.
"I put all that behind me," Boucher said. "I'm not worried about what went wrong."
Martin Brodeur stopped 24 shots and made one of the great saves of his post-season career. He just didn't have enough help to beat a Flyers team that had the arena rocking all night long.
It took two stars to spark them.
Carter and Briere were held without a point in the first three games after combining for 114 this season. Carter led the Flyers in goals and Briere was third.
Without their production, the Flyers relied on clutch on goals from Chris Pronger and Carcillo to win Games 1 and 3. They will need goals from everyone to win games -- but they will need their top guys to stay hot to win series.
Carter went first, firing a wrist shot on the power play past a stunned Brodeur on the glove side to tie the game at 1 in the second period. Briere set him up with the assist, then gave the Flyers the lead they wouldn't relinquish.
Briere took a perfect pass from Braydon Coburn and scored from right above the circle for a 2-1 lead. He did it on a 4-on-4 and scored his most meaningful goal since he had one in the dramatic shootout season finale against the Rangers to put them in the playoffs.
Carter hadn't seemed himself after missing two weeks late in the season with a broken foot. He refused to use the injury as an excuse for his slump.
Simon Gagne is still without a goal -- but not from lack of effort.
Brodeur was out of position and extended head-to-toe on his left side along the crease. Gagne fired from perfect position in the slot, but his shot was snared by Brodeur's outstretched glove for the highlight-reel save of the series.
Even the Philly fans had to appreciate that one.
Gagne left the game in the third period with a lower-body injury and did not return. He appeared to take a slapshot in the foot-ankle area in the second period. Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren said Gagne would be examined again Wednesday.
That was about the only downer for the Flyers.
The Flyers put the victory away against the NHL's career wins leader in the third period. Carcillo, the brawler who scored the overtime winner in Game 3, stripped Colin White behind the net, whirled and scored to make it 3-1.
Carcillo had the crowd going wild and has become an instant playoff hero in Philadelphia. He hasn't totally strayed from his fighting roots -- he was hit with a 10-minute misconduct late in the game.
Briere knocked in a rebound midway through the third for a 4-1 lead. Brodeur lost his helmet and spit his gum onto the ice as the derisive chants of "Mar-ty! Mar-ty! Mar-ty!" only grew louder.
Boucher made 30 saves. His lone mistake came in the first period when Ilya Kovachuk scored for a 1-0 lead. That was all he allowed.
"We lost discipline in the second half of the third period," Devils coach Jacques Lemaire said. "Before that, I thought we were fine most of the game. We've got to score more goals."
The Flyers needed all 82 games just to make the playoffs. They can advance in the post-season in only five.
NOTES: The Flyers will show Game 5 live Thursday night at the Wachovia Center. Parking and admission are free. ... The Flyers needed this win. While they are 17-2 when holding a 3-1 series lead, they are only 13-6 when tied 2-2.