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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- Whether they give up six shots or 36, play
tight checking or more wide open, the New Jersey Devils are winning
playoff games.
And that's put the Philadelphia Flyers in a familiar position,
having to overcome some more adversity.
|  | | Martin Brodeur was peppered by the Flyers, but only allowed one first-period goal in Game 1. |
Petr Sykora and Bobby Holik scored in a 26-second span late in a
three-goal first period and Martin Brodeur made 35 saves as the
Devils used a rare offensive outburst to beat the Flyers 4-1 in
Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals on Sunday.
"Everybody makes us out to be such a defensive team, that we
trap all over the place," Devils defenseman Ken Daneyko said.
"But we've got a lot of offensive ability out there. Today was a
good indication that we can play offensive if need be; and you have
to win in this league.
"Look at Colorado last night," Daneyko added. "Everybody says
they're a high-flying offensive team and they played as boring you
can play against Dallas. But they won, that's the important
thing."
Scott Niedermayer and Claude Lemieux also scored as the Devils
won for the ninth time in 11 playoff games and grabbed the lead in
the best-of-seven series.
Mark Recchi tallied for the Flyers, who will have to win Game 2
on Tuesday night to avoid falling behind 2-0 at home for the second
straight series.
"The way they scored goals is concerning," Recchi said. "We
gave the puck up and made mistakes."
The Flyers weren't alone in that in a game filled with great
hitting and good goaltending by Brodeur and Flyers rookie Brian
Boucher, who faced 24 shots.
The Devils, who shut down Florida and Toronto in the opening two
rounds of the playoffs with tight checking, never slowed down
Philadelphia.
The Flyers, who got some unexpected help with the return of
Keith Primeau from a concussion, outshot New Jersey 36-24. It was
only the second time the Devils have been outshot in the playoffs,
and it came one game after New Jersey set a modern-day NHL record
limiting Toronto to six shots in their conference semifinal
clincher on Monday night.
"Marty made some big saves for us and they missed a couple of
opportunities," Devils coach Larry Robinson said. "They used
their speed well and got more shots than I would have liked. They
got way too many chances so we'll have to shore that up."
Philadelphia actually had the better of the play in a 1-1 game
late in the first period when the Devils broke it open with two
quick goals.
Sykora gave New Jersey the lead for good with a backhander in
front with 2:22 left in the period. Jason Arnott made the big play
in the corner. He checked defenseman Eric Desjardins as he was
going for the puck -- the Flyers complained it was interference --
and sent it to Sykora for a shot between Boucher's legs.
Just as Sykora's name was being announced as the goal scorer,
Holik stretched the lead to 3-1 on a quick rush. Randy McKay got
the puck over the Flyers blue line, pushed it ahead to Sergei
Brylin, who found Holik for a cross-ice pass. Holik finished into
an open net.
Holik evaded a check by Primeau to get open and score his first
playoff goal since 1997. He had gone 28 games without a goal.
"It takes the life out of you when they get two quick ones like
that," Flyers defenseman Chris Therien said. "We kept fighting
but their goaltender made some good saves."
Brodeur might have been at his best in the second period when
the Flyers held a 13-4 shot advantage, getting good chances in
close by Primeau and two great ones by John LeClair. Brodeur made a
diving stick stop on LeClair's own rebound for the second one.
"On their power play I think I faced more shots than the whole
60 minutes against Toronto," Brodeur said. "I looked up at the
scoreboard and that's exactly what I thought. I already past the
six shot mark."
Lemieux closed out the scoring early in the third, tapping in a
pass from Alexander Mogilny on a power play.
Boucher, who excelled in the Flyers' conference semifinal win
over Pittsburgh, got a rude awakening in this one as Niedermayer
scored on the Devils' first shot. McKay and Brylin set up the
defenseman in the right circle and his rising shot lifted Boucher's
water bottle off the top of the net at 55 seconds.
It also came on Primeau's first shift of the game and silenced
the sellout crowd of 19,779 for a couple of minutes.
Recchi woke them up at 8:20 after Brodeur failed to handle a
slap shot by Daymond Langkow with his glove. The puck popped loose
and Recchi beat Niedermayer to the puck and backhanded it home.
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ALSO SEE
NHL Scoreboard
New Jersey Clubhouse
Philadelphia Clubhouse
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Petr Sykora is fearless when going to the net against the Flyers.
avi: 420 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Bobby Holik always scores, especially when the puck is close to the net.
avi: 913 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Scott Niedermayer scores for the Devils.
avi: 432 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Mark Recchi rips the puck into the back of the net against the Devils.
avi: 594 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
 Scott Niedermayer says hard work paid off for the Devils in Game 1.
wav: 194 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
Brian Boucher wants to move on to Game 2.
wav: 91 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
Bobby Holik says winning on the road is special.
wav: 51 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
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