Playoffs 2000:Flyers got sloppy in Game 5 loss

Flyers got sloppy in Game 5 loss
Associated Press

PHILADELPHIA -- The Philadelphia Flyers hardly looked like a team with a chance to clinch its eighth trip to the Stanley Cup finals.

"We came out flat and got completely outplayed," forward John LeClair said after a 4-1 loss to New Jersey on Monday night. "Everyone is extremely disappointed. We have to pull our game up to the level we were at."


	Patrik Elias, left, was one of four Devils to turn a Philly miscue into a goal.

New Jersey capitalized on crucial miscues to win Game 5, cutting Philadelphia's lead in the best-of-seven series to 3-2 and regaining momentum in the Eastern Conference finals.

Game 6 is Wednesday at the Continental Airlines Arena.

"They came at us hard and we were maybe not quite as ready as we normally are," Flyers interim coach Craig Ramsay said.

"We didn't come out with the same intensity that we had," Flyers forward Keith Primeau said.

The Devils scored their first goal when the Flyers failed to clear the puck on a power play.

Jason Arnott's shot got past Brian Boucher two seconds before Kent Manderville left the penalty box, giving the Devils a 1-0 lead midway through the first period.

"I should've cleared the puck. It was my mistake," forward Valeri Zelepukin said.

Bobby Holik made it 2-0 with 4:45 left in the first when Keith Primeau couldn't control an errant outlet pass, setting up an odd-man rush.

Boucher was helpless as Holik broke in with Jay Pandolfo and Vladimir Malakhov. It was the first time in the series that either team took a 2-0 lead.

"Our players were trying to create something, and none of it worked," Ramsay said. "It was one of those nights. We tried some things that didn't work, and when you fall behind, you try a little more. Nothing worked for us."

After a goal by Zelepukin made it 3-1 late in the second period, New Jersey regained its three-goal lead following a giveaway by LeClair less than a minute into the third.

LeClair's errant pass in neutral ice went right to Patrik Elias, who skated in and beat Boucher between the pads with a backhander.

"We did a poor job of forcing the puck through the neutral zone," LeClair said. "We did a lot of things we said we couldn't do."

Twelve teams in the last 12 years have come back from a 3-1 deficit to win a playoff series, but all 12 teams did it in the first round.

This is the first time New Jersey has forced a sixth game after trailing 3-1. The Devils fell behind 3-1 twice before and lost both series in five.

New Jersey has never come back from a 3-2 deficit, either. The Devils are 0-4 when trailing 3-2.

"I don't think they were ever out of the series," defenseman Dan McGillis said. "They're not going to lay down and die."