NEWARK, NJ – Alexi Ponikarovsky’s rebound backhand goal at 17:21 gave the New Jersey Devils a 4-3 overtime win and a two games to one lead in the series. Philadelphia got caught in a bad line change that led to the goal. Ilya Kovalchuk hit Ponikarovsky coming off the bench, creating a two on one leading to the game-winner. The Flyers had great opportunities to win the game with two power plays in the overtime, but the Devils killed them both.
Philadelphia opened the scoring at 6:08 of the opening period with a Brayden Schenn power play goal that barely squeezed between the post and Martin Brodeur’s right pad.
The Devils tied the game with a Patrik Elias power play goal at 12:33. Twenty seconds later, they took advantage of an excellent fore-check in Philadelphia’s defensive zone when Kovalchuk was left alone and beat Flyer’s goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov.
Philadelphia scored the only goal of the second period when Matt Carle beat Brodeur over his left shoulder. The goal was initially set up by a cross-ice pass from Claude Giroux to Scott Hartnell. Hartnell threw the puck deep to Jakub Voracek who put it on Carle’s stick.
The teams traded goals in the third period. Zach Parise scored at 7:29 and Danny Briere tied the game at 11:04 to send it into overtime. Both shots beat the respective goalies between the legs.
Game four will be played on Sunday night in Newark. The Flyers need to win to tie the series and regain home ice advantage.
Contact the writer at: mitch.cooper@prohockeynews.com
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