Devils 2, Flyers 1 (SO): New Jersey Rebounds From Loss to Islanders

Newark, NJ (Sports Network) – Travis Zajac scored the game-winner in the fourth round of the shootout as New Jersey clipped Philadelphia, 2-1, at Prudential Center.

With each team having scored once, Mike Richards began the fourth and final round by clanging his wrister off the post. Zajac followed up with the clincher, a shot which hit the right post, slipped under the crossbar and exited the net quickly.

Adam Mair tallied in regulation for the Devils, who recovered nicely from dropping a 2-0 decision on Friday to the New York Islanders.

Johan Hedberg posted his best performance of the season, stopping 40-of-41 shots.

Danny Briere netted a third-period power-play goal for the Flyers, who have lost back-to-back shootouts on consecutive days.

Brian Boucher was the hard-luck loser with 24 saves.

New Jersey controlled play early on, but wasted a four-minute power play that came less than two minutes in. The home team finally hit the socreboard with 8:11 to play in the first when Mair hit the left pipe from the right wing at a sharp angle.

In a scoreless middle 20 minutes, Hedberg made 14 saves and Boucher needed to make just six stops. Hedberg’s best came roughly midway through the period, when he anticipated a stick move from Ville Leino, and dove in front of his crease to cover the puck.

Boucher was forced to make a glove stop on Ilya Kovalchuk three minutes into the third period, then Hedberg dove out once more to smother an open Jeff Carter chance roughly 30 seconds later.

Philadelphia got a power play prior to the eight-minute mark and Briere cashed in when he managed to slip a shot past Hedberg at the left post at 8:38.

Kovalchuk fanned on his chance in close during a 2-on-1 rush with two minutes remaining in overtime, then failed to control the puck on two ensuing rushes.

The Flyers took five of six meetings with the Devils a season ago, including two of three in Newark…Philadelphia’s power play, which sputtered at an 0- for-16 and 1-for-32 clip coming in, finished 1-of-2…Devils forward Patrik Elias was a late scratch for personal reasons…Hedberg’s previous top performance in terms of saves came when he stopped 38 in a 5-4 shootout loss to Buffalo on November 10.

Philadelphia Flyers At New Jersey Devils: Devils Look To Rebound Against Flyers

(Sports Network) - A pair of Atlantic Division rivals will meet for the first time since last year's playoffs when the Philadelphia Flyers visit the New Jersey Devils today at the Prudential Center.

Philadelphia dominated the Devils in 2009-10, winning five out of six regular- season meetings before disposing of New Jersey in five games during the opening round of the Eastern Conference playoffs. That postseason series ended on Apr. 22 in Newark, where the Flyers clinched the series with a 3-0 win and took their first step towards a run to the Stanley Cup Finals.

The Flyers have won six of seven and nine of the last 13 regular-season meetings overall and have also taken three out of four in New Jersey.

The Devils have struggled early this season, while Philadelphia is among the top teams in the East. The Flyers are leading the Atlantic Division with 33 points and are second in the conference standings after Washington.

New Jersey, meanwhile, has just 16 points on the year and is one point ahead of the New York Islanders for last place in the East.

The Devils were actually dealt a loss by the lowly Islanders on Friday afternoon, as Rick DiPietro made 29 saves for his 16th career shutout in New York's 2-0 win at Nassau Coliseum. The victory snapped the Isles' club-record 14-game losing streak.

New Jersey had entered Friday's game on a two-game winning streak, marking the first time the Devils had managed consecutive wins this season.

Johan Hedberg stopped 18 shots in the losing effort against the Islanders and New Jersey was shut out for the fourth time this season. Hedberg is expected to get the start against tonight as Martin Brodeur continues to nurse a bruised elbow.

New Jersey captain Jamie Langenbrunner missed his seventh straight game with a neck injury on Friday and the veteran forward is questionable for today's tilt.

The Devils have won two straight on home ice, but are just 3-5-2 as the host this season.

The Flyers had a three-game winning streak snapped Friday afternoon, losing a shootout decision to the visitingCalgary Flames.

Rene Bourque notched the winner in the decisive phase as the Flames nipped Philadelphia, 3-2. After Mike Richards was unable to score on the backhand to start the third round, Bourque beat Sergei Bobrovsky with a snapshot inside the left post to end the contest.

James van Riemsdyk and Nikolay Zherdev tallied for the Flyers, while Bobrovsky made 28 saves in the loss.

"I think that we played a hungry hockey team. I think we're capable of playing better," said Flyers head coach Peter Laviolette. "I wouldn't say we stole a point. We didn't generate a whole lot offensively."

Van Riemsdyk has recorded a goal in three straight games and also enters today riding a five-game point streak.

Philadelphia has won three of its last four road tests and is 6-2-2 as the guest this year.