Philadelphia Flyers Vs. New Jersey Devils, NHL Playoffs 2012: Complete Series Coverage

Flyers Vs. Devils, Game 5: NJ Sticks To Game Plan, Closes Out Philly, Series

Going up against series favorite Philadelphia, the Devils showed that hard work, a ferocious forecheck and sticking to a proven game plan was the perfect recipe for a triumph over the Flyers.

Flyers Vs. Devils, Game 5 Final Score: New Jersey Advances With 3-1 Win

PHILADELPHIA -- Ilya Kovalchuk's goal at the 5:00 mark of the third period turned Wells Fargo Center into a mausoleum and put the nail in the coffin for the Philadelphia Flyers. An opposite-of-intelligent James van Riemsdyk holding penalty put the New Jersey Devils on the power play, and Kovalchuk's blast from the point beat goalie Ilya Bryzgalov clean to put the road team up 3-1.

The Flyers never really did get on track after a strong start. New Jersey continued to do the things they had done all series: pressure the puck carrier while keeping Philly's only options to the perimeter when it came to scoring and moving the puck up ice. The Flyers were never really, truly able to establish strong time in the Devils' zone outside of a few stretches in the first period, and even when they were only down a goal, it never seemed like they had much of a chance.

As you'd expect, New Jersey fell into a defensive shell after taking the two-goal lead, and the orange-clad fans didn't hesitate to begin heading to the exits with five minutes remaining in the game.

The Devils will advance to face either the Rangers or Capitals.

We have full coverage of Game 5 between the Flyers and Devils in our StoryStream. For more on the Devils, check in with In Lou We Trust, and for more on the Flyers, check in with Broad Street Hockey.

VIDEO: Zac Rinaldo Hit Crushes Anton Volchenkov

Andrej Meszaros Injury: Flyers Defenseman Returns For Game 5 Vs. Devils

The Flyers will play a must-win Game 5 against the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday night without star forward Claude Giroux, thanks to his one-game suspension, but they will get a mainstay back in their lineup. Defenseman Andrej Meszaros will return to the lineup for the first time since back surgery knocked him out of action in March.

Philadelphia has struggled defensively in the last three games of the series, typically out-run by New Jersey's aggressive forecheck. Meszaros replaces the not exactly fleet-footed Andreas Lilja on the blue line, so while Meszaros isn't necessarily a fast skater, he may be able to help Philadelphia control New Jersey in Game 5.

On the Devils' side of the ice on Tuesday evening, forward Ryan Carter returns to the lineup on the fourth line after an illness kept him out of Game 4. Tim Sestito returns to the press box.

We have full coverage of Game 5 between the Flyers and Devils in our StoryStream. For more on the Devils, check in with In Lou We Trust, and for more on the Flyers, check in with Broad Street Hockey.

Flyers Vs. Devils, Game 4: Another Dominant N.J. Performance Pushes Philly To Brink

Martin Brodeur celebrated his 40th birthday quietly Sunday night. as his New Jersey teammates dominated the visiting Flyers in taking a stranglehold 3-1 series lead.

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Flyers Vs. Devils, Game 4 Final Score: New Jersey Holds Philly Back Again, Takes 3-1 Series Lead

The New Jersey Devils sat back a bit in the third period, but ultimately the Philadelphia Flyers still failed to generate anything resembling an offensive attack, and the result was a 4-2 Devils victory in Game 4. They lead the best-of-seven Eastern Conference Semifinal series, 3-1, and can wrap things up in Game 5 on Tuesday night in Philly.

Ilya Bryzgalov kept his team in the game, making 39 saves overall as the Devils dominated control of the puck and zone time throughout the game. Philadelphia has struggled in just about every regard against the Devils since their Game 1 victory as the Devils have executed their game plan almost flawlessly.

They've been hard on the forecheck, pinning the Flyers defense in deep and keeping the puck away from them. It's given the Flyers fits when they try to break out of their own end, and they haven't been able to establish any type of offensive rhythm as a result. That's been true for much of the series, it was true again on Sunday night, and if it's true in Game 5, the Devils will be off to the Eastern Conference Finals.

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Flyers Vs. Devils, Game 3: N.J. Takes Advantage Of Philly Mistakes, Rides Poni To OT Win

With a chance to wrestle home ice advantage back from the Devils in Game 3, a series of mental lapses and bad defensive coverage led to a Flyers loss.

Devils Vs. Flyers, Game 2 Score: Alexei Ponikarovsky Wins It For New Jersey

Alexei Ponikarovsky's goal 17:21 into overtime gave the New Jersey Devils a hard-fought Game 3 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers, pushing them to a 2-1 series lead in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. His goal came on a rebound given up by Flyers goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov after a poor Philly line change left a 2-on-1 break for the Devils wide open.

Danny Briere forced overtime with his goal at the 11:04 mark of the third, on an oddly similar play to Ponikarovsky's game winner. A puck bounced off goalie Martin Brodeur and back to Briere, who batted it home for the rebound goal.

Philly had two power play opportunities in the overtime period. On the first, the Flyers passed the puck around the perimeter for what seemed like the entire duration of the man advantage. On the second, New Jersey's phenomenal penalty kill thwarted every chance the Flyers had at setting up a scoring opportunity.

That was likely the difference in the game. New Jersey has held court thus far on home ice and they'll try to take a commanding 3-1 series lead on Sunday at Prudential Center.

We have full coverage of Game 2 between the Flyers and Devils in our StoryStream. For more on the Flyers, check in with Broad Street Hockey. For more on the Devils, check in with In Lou We Trust.

Flyers Vs. Devils, Game 2: How Adam Larsson Scored His First Playoff Goal

Danny Briere is credited for his offensive explosion in the postseason, but his defense leaves much to be desired. That was the case in Game 2 against the Devils.

Flyers Vs. Devils, Game 2: New Jersey Shows Philly They're Also Resilient

It was the perfect time for the Devils to collapse. Already down 1-0 in the series and without superstar Ilya Kovalchuk, they fell down 1-0 early in Game 2. But something happened, as New Jersey dug deep and put together a huge effort in the face of adversity.

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Kovalchuk Out: Flyers Vs. Devils Game 2 Odds Move On Injury News

Ilya Kovalchuk Injury: Devils Forward To Miss Game 2 Vs. Flyers

The New Jersey Devils returned home to Newark after Game 1 against the Flyers in Philadelphia on Sunday. When they returned to Philadelphia Monday evening for Game 2, Ilya Kovalchuk did not join them, and the team will be without its star forward as it tries to avoid falling into a 2-0 hole on Tuesday at Wells Fargo Center.

The team announced before its morning skate Tuesday that Kovalchuk will miss Game 2 with a lower body injury, and that he's suffered with this injury since the first round. He's listed as day-to-day. Devils beat reporter Tom Gulitti reported Monday that Kovalchuk went for therapy on what's believed to be a lower back injury.

Kovalchuk did not look good in Game 1 against Philadelphia. He played an abnormally low 21:20 of total ice time in the game, and more surprising was the zero shots on goal he registered in that time. He was virtually invisible on the ice.

With Kovalchuk out, it looks as though Tim Sestito could get the nod. He won't play 21 minutes.

We have full coverage of Game 2 between the Flyers and Devils in our StoryStream. For more on the Flyers, check in with Broad Street Hockey, and for more on the Devils, check in with In Lou We Trust.

Flyers Vs. Devils, Game 1: Danny Briere 'Answers Bell' Once Again

Just as he has done so many times before in the postseason Briere 'answered the bell' when his team needed him most, further establishing himself as Philadelphia's "Mr. Clutch".

POLL: Which Peter Laviolette Fist Pump Wins?

Flyers Vs. Devils, Game 1 Final Score: Danny Briere Wins It (Twice) With OT Goal

Danny Briere won the hockey game. Then, he didn't win the hockey game. Then, he won the hockey game. We'll explain.

See, you can't kick pucks in the net intentionally, but early in overtime while the Flyers were on the power play thanks to a Marek Zidlicky puck-over-the-glass penalty, Briere did just that. The right call was made on the ice upon review, and the Philadelphia Flyers and New Jersey Devils kept playing Game 1.

Distinct kicking motion indeed. But Briere redeemed himself just minutes later. James van Riemsdyk positioned himself in front of Martin Brodeur's crease, and Briere's shot from up top found its way to the back of the net.

The Flyers got off to a slow start in Game 1, but they really settled in after a while. By the third period and overtime, Philadelphia had completely taken over the hockey game, and it didn't look like the Devils could keep up. Petr Sykora's goal on an odd break against the flow of the game gave New Jersey a chance, but the Briere's overtime goal made sure it didn't come back to bite them.

Game 2 will be played on Tuesday evening at Wells Fargo Center.

We have full coverage of Flyers vs. Devils Game 1 in our StoryStream. For more from the New Jersey perspective, check in with In Lou We Trust. For more from the Philadelphia perspective, check in with Broad Street Hockey.

GIF: Stephen Gionta Is Very Polite

Scott Hartnell's Stick Interrupts Claude Giroux-Pierre McGuire Interview

Stanley Cup Playoffs 2012, Flyers Vs. Devils Preview: Turnpike Rivals Set To Renew Pleasantries

It took some time for the last matchup of the playoffs to be finalized, but two long-time division rivals will go at it in the postseason for the second time in the last three seasons.

NHL Playoff Schedule 2012, Philadelphia Flyers Vs. New Jersey Devils: Game Times, TV Coverage And More

The Philadelphia Flyers and New Jersey Devils kick off their second-round playoff series on Sunday in the City of Brotherly Love.