National Hockey League
BOXSCORE | RECAP
New Jersey 3, Philadelphia 1
When: 7:30 PM ET, Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Where: Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Referees: Stephen Walkom, Eric Furlatt
Linesmen: Steve Miller, Brad Kovachik
Attendance: 19818

DEVILS 3, FLYERS 1
: Martin Brodeur stopped 27 shots to lead visiting New Jersey to its first appearance in the Eastern Conference finals in nearly a decade.

Brodeur overcame an early misstep to record his 107th career playoff victory as the Devils finished off the Flyers in five games. New Jersey will face the winner of the other East second-round series between the New York Rangers and the Washington Capitals.

Max Talbot put the Flyers up 7:18 into the opening period. After a New Jersey turnover resulted in extended pressure in the Devils' zone, Brayden Schenn had his initial shot stopped by Brodeur but Talbot was on the doorstep to bang home the loose puck for his fourth goal of the postseason.

The Devils responded just over two minutes later. Adam Henrique gained the Philadelphia zone and fed a cross-ice pass to Bryce Salvador, whose shot from the top of the right circle deflected off Flyers forward Wayne Simmonds and beat netminder Ilya Bryzgalov just underneath the crossbar.

New Jersey took its first lead at 12:45 on one of the most bizarre goals of the series. Flyers defenseman Kimmo Timonen played the puck back to Bryzgalov, but his clearing attempt deflected off the shaft of Devils forward David Clarkson's stick and between his pads.

The Devils had two opportunities to extend the lead in the second frame, but Ilya Kovalchuk rang a shot off the post less than minute in and Patrik Elias did the same just past the midway point of the period.

New Jersey finally did jump ahead by two goals at the five-minute mark of the third period. Just four seconds after Flyers forward James van Riemsdyk was given a minor penalty for holding, Kovalchuk blasted a shot from well out that eluded Bryzgalov for his seventh point of the series.

GAME NOTEBOOK
: After scoring 30 goals in six games in their six-game series against the Pittsburgh Penguins, the Flyers managed just 11 goals in five games against the Devils. ... New Jersey last appeared in the conference finals in 2003, when it went on to win the Stanley Cup. ... The Flyers had to do without F Claude Giroux, who was given a one-game suspension for hitting New Jersey F Dainius Zubrus in the head in Game 4. Giroux finished with eight goals and nine assists in 10 postseason games.
Top Game Performances
 
New Jersey   Philadelphia
Ilya Kovalchuk 2 Points Maxime Talbot 1
Ilya Kovalchuk 1 Goals Maxime Talbot 1
Adam Henrique 2 Assists Daniel Briere 1
Ilya Kovalchuk 1 Power Play Goals N/A
N/A Short Handed Goals N/A
Martin Brodeur .964 Save Percentage Ilya Bryzgalov .900
Martin Brodeur 27 Saves Ilya Bryzgalov 27
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Shots Goals Power Play Penalty Kill Penalty Mins Face Offs Won
New Jersey 30 3 1-4 1-1 2 33
Philadelphia 28 1 0-1 3-4 8 27
Upcoming Games
  • Philadelphia will play their next game on the road against New Jersey. The Flyers have a W/L % of .426 after a win and .771 after a loss.
  • New Jersey will play their next game at home against Philadelphia. The Devils have a W/L % of .604 after a win and .559 after a loss.