Carcillo's OT winner gives Flyers series lead over Devils
Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - Daniel Carcillo scored 3:35 into overtime to lift the Philadelphia Flyers to a 3-2 win over New Jersey in Game 3 of their Eastern Conference quarterfinal series with the Atlantic Division champions.
In a contest that featured a slew of penalties, Devils' forward David Clarkson was whistled for interference 1:30 into the extra session. Philadelphia failed to convert, but maintained possession in the offensive zone.
New Jersey goaltender Martin Brodeur turned away Mike Richards' wraparound bid. Richards continued to battle down low and threw the puck into the crease. Carcillo was alone in front and banged home the puck into the wide open net. Carcillo's first career playoff overtime goal sent the 19,957 in attendance at the Wachovia Center into a frenzy.
Richards and Claude Giroux also tallied for the Flyers, who split the first two games in New Jersey. Brian Boucher made 17 saves on 19 shots.
"Defensively, I thought we played a good game," said Philadelphia head coach Peter Laviolette. "There was so much special teams in the game that it limited the 5-on-5 hockey...I thought our game was good 5-on-5 -- we have to play more of it."
The victory was the seventh in nine games for the Flyers against the Devils this season.
Brian Rolston netted a pair of power-play goals for the Devils, while Brodeur allowed three goals on 34 shots. Brodeur fell to 12-21 for his career in playoff overtime games.
"When you look at the amount of (power play) opportunities we had, you're not satisfied. You'd like to get more goals," said New Jersey head coach Jacques Lemaire. The Devils finished 2-for-8 on the power play.
The Flyers will look to take a commanding 3-1 lead in the series when they host Game 4 on Tuesday.
Rolston and Giroux scored power-play goals 1:34 apart in a penalty-filled first period.
Philadelphia was called for three infractions before the game was seven minutes old. Flyers defenseman Kimmo Timonen was sentenced to the box for hooking at 6:57. Just 18 seconds had elapsed when Rolston unloaded a bullet from the point to put New Jersey on the board.
Moments later, the Flyers got their first crack with man-advantage. With Matthew Corrente off the ice for high-sticking, Giroux drove the net and deflected home a feed from Timonen past Brodeur at 8:49.
Eight minor penalties were called in the opening 20 minutes.
The Flyers took the lead 1:15 into the second period. Simon Gagne's dogged work on the forecheck created a turnover deep in the New Jersey end by defenseman Mark Fraser. Carcillo collected the loose puck behind the net and dished out front to Richards for a successful one-timer.
Rolston tied the game at 16:38 of the second, shooting through the screen provided by Dainius Zubrus.
Brodeur made 12 saves in the third period, including a left shoulder stop against Danny Briere with about six minutes remaining to keep the game deadlocked. New Jersey mustered only three shots in the third.
Game Notes
Ilya Kovalchuk had two assists for the Devils...Philadelphia was 1-for-5 on the power play...The Flyers and Devils are meeting in the postseason for the fourth time. New Jersey eliminated Philadelphia in the Eastern Conference finals in 1995 and 2000, while the Flyers bested the Devils in the opening round of the 2004 playoffs.
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