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PHILADELPHIA -- The New Jersey Devils did not make their
latest trip down the New Jersey Turnpike in vain.
The Devils, facing elimination from the Eastern Conference
finals, got goals from linemates Jason Arnott, Petr Sykora and
Patrik Elias and another from Bobby Holik to beat the Philadelphia
Flyers 4-1 Monday night.
|  | | Bobby Holik, left, was one of four Devils to score as New Jersey's forwards hounded goalie Brian Boucher all night. |
Philadelphia still leads 3-2 in the best-of-seven series that
continues Wednesday night up the turnpike at Continental Airlines
Arena. Game 7, if necessary, would be Friday in Philadelphia.
Arnott and Holik scored first-period goals and the lead grew to
3-0 early in the second when Sykora scored.
"There was no tomorrow," said Holik, who has all three of his
playoff goals this season in this series. "We had to start playing
well from the first drop of the puck to the last."
Philadelphia, which won three straight after dropping the series
opener, might have star center Eric Lindros back by then. Lindros,
who has had two concussions in the last three months, was cleared
by his doctor Monday to resume full team practices.
Thirteen teams have rallied from 3-1 deficits to win a series,
but never in a conference final. That does not include two teams
which came back from 3-0 to win. The Flyers are 14-1 in series in
which they have taken a 3-1 lead.
"We had to win this game, bottom line," New Jersey captain
Scott Stevens said. "We had our backs against the wall here
tonight coming into a hostile building. We won the game and have to
go back to our building and get it."
That might be easier said than done. The road team has won each
game in this series except for Game 2 when the Flyers got even.
Philadelphia, 6-1 in road playoff games this season, is only 5-4 at
the First Union Center.
"Subconsciously you might be a little bit more ready to play,"
Holik said of road games. "You're more focused, more determined to
win on the road than at home because at home you feel too
comfortable. That's why the visiting team catches you by surprise
and you get behind the 8-ball."
It was only the second time in franchise history that the Devils
avoided elimination on the road. New Jersey won Game 7 of the
division finals at Washington in 1988.
The Flyers would be just as happy to wrap up their eighth trip
to the Stanley Cup finals in New Jersey.
"We don't want to get too down here," Flyers goalie Brian
Boucher said. "We are still up 3-2 and we have a wonderful
opportunity to go up there and do it. We know we can play better
than that and hopefully we can get it done in Game 6."
Martin Brodeur, who was not sharp in the previous two losses,
looked much better and made 20 saves for his 10th playoff victory
this season. The Flyers had 21 shots for the third straight game,
matching their playoff low.
"Our team made a concerted effort to play the game smart, get
the puck in, forecheck, play hard all over the ice and I hope we do
the same thing in Game 6," veteran defenseman Ken Daneyko said.
New Jersey center Sergei Nemchinov left with 3:02 gone in the
second period after he was bloodied by a check from John LeClair.
Nemchinov took 40 stitches to the left side of his head after
striking the glass near the penalty box and then was rammed into a
metal partition holding it in place.
The Devils responded to the screaming done by coach Larry
Robinson following their 3-1 loss at home in Game 4 when they
allowed two goals in the third period.
"He was very mad because we lost two games just because we
didn't work hard for 60 minutes," Elias said. "I think we figured
it out that we didn't realize how close we are to accomplish
something great here."
New Jersey came out fast and hard and grabbed a 1-0 lead when
Arnott scored his fourth playoff goal 10:25 in, with two seconds
remaining on a power play. Holik made it 2-0 just 4:50 later. In
Games 2-4, the Devils were outscored 11-6.
"It's always nice to get the first goal," Robinson said. "If
they get the first goal in this building, all of a sudden it's a
whole different game."
Vladimir Malakhov fired a shot that Boucher stopped with his
pad. The rebound came out to Holik, who put it past Boucher who was
sprawled out on the ice.
Holik, who took four shots in the first period, had gone 28
playoff games without a postseason goal before scoring in Game 1.
"I don't really want to talk about my goals because it's not
important," Holik said. "It's just a result of the work I put in
for the team."
New Jersey dominated play throughout the period, finishing with
a 14-6 shots advantage and didn't waste any time stretching the
lead to 3-0 in the second when Sykora scored his sixth goal.
Elias' pass attempt to Sykora was blocked by Flyers defenseman
Luke Richardson. Elias got it back and moved it to Sykora, who put
a shot behind Boucher at 1:47.
The Flyers got on the board with 4:15 left in the second on
Valeri Zelepukin's first goal. The goal was the first the Devils
allowed this series in nine short-handed situations. It snapped New
Jersey's streak of 32 straight penalty kills dating to the last
round against Toronto.
The goal came when Brodeur swung the puck around the boards
behind his net. Mark Recchi intercepted and passed out in front to
Zelepukin. Brodeur went down, scrambling to get back into position
as Zelepukin skated deftly around him and tucked the puck into the
lower right corner of the net.
Elias put the game away 54 seconds into the third with his fifth
goal. After a giveaway in neutral ice, Elias skated in and beat
Boucher between the pads with a backhander. The Flyers rookie
goalie stopped 26 shots.
"Brian was good," Philadelphia interim coach Craig Ramsay
said. "I thought he was good early. They were getting all the
chances, not us. He hung in there real well."
Flyers center Daymond Langkow returned after missing the
previous two games with a concussion.
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ALSO SEE
NHL Scoreboard
New Jersey Clubhouse
Philadelphia Clubhouse
RECAPS
New Jersey 4
Philadelphia 1
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Jason Arnott's one-timer puts the Devils up early.
avi: 930 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Bobby Holik pushes one past a fallen Brian Boucher.
avi: 778 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Petr Sykora scores off the Patrik Elias pass.
avi: 965 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Patrik Elias seals the game with the unassisted goal.
avi: 673 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Valeri Zelepukin beats Martin Brodeur for the Flyers' lone goal.
avi: 921 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Sergei Nemchinov is checked into the boards by John LeClair.
avi: 1630 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
 Patrick Elias says patience was the difference in Game 5 for New Jersey.
wav: 193 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
Larry Robinson says scoring first is important.
wav: 58 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
Ken Daneyko says the Devils were not outworked in Game 5.
wav: 117 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
John LeClair says home-ice does not matter in the Flyers-Devils series.
wav: 76 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
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