Recap: New Jersey vs. Philadelphia
Sports Network | April 14, 2010
Newark, NJ (Sports Network) - Brian Boucher made 23 saves to record his first playoff win in nearly 10 years, as the Philadelphia Flyers held off the New Jersey Devils, 2-1, in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference quarterfinals at Prudential Center.
Boucher's play invoked memories of his performance in the 2000 playoffs, when he backstopped the Flyers to within a game of the Stanley Cup Finals before Philadelphia blew a 3-1 series advantage to the Devils.
On Wednesday, Boucher outdueled the most accomplished goaltender in NHL history, the Devils' Martin Brodeur, who stopped just 12 shots.
Mike Richards and Chris Pronger both scored in the second period for seventh-seeded Philadelphia, which secured a playoff spot with a 2-1 shootout victory over the Rangers on Sunday.
"It just felt like another game for us," Boucher said. "We knew it was going to be a tough game to win. (The Devils) are a good hockey team. We're happy we got Game 1."
The Flyers fared well against New Jersey during the regular season, outscoring the Devils, 20-13, in winning five of the six contests.
Travis Zajac spoiled Boucher's shutout bid with 2:43 to play in the third period.
"I think our intensity was good," Brodeur said. "We played really well defensively. We've got to keep our heads up."
New Jersey is hoping to snap a recent postseason trend. The Atlantic Division champions have been knocked out in the first round in each of the past two years.
Game 2 of this best-of-seven series is scheduled for Friday in New Jersey.
With just over two minutes gone in the third, the Devils were awarded a four- minute power play when Philadelphia defenseman Oskars Bartulis clipped David Clarkson with an errant stick. New Jersey, though, squandered the golden opportunity and continued to stare at a two-goal deficit.
Zajac finally solved Boucher with a one-timer from the right point that was redirected in the slot by Philadelphia's Ian Laperriere and bounced under the netminder's glove.
Moments later, Brodeur was beckoned to the bench in favor of an extra attacker, but the tying goal never materialized as Boucher held on for his first postseason win since May 20, 2000.
The Flyers struck for a pair of goals in the second period, the first coming on the power play at 9:25.
Claude Giroux worked the puck to Richards below the right circle and he fired a shot on goal. Pinching down from his point position, Pronger was standing in the crease and backhanded the puck in off Brian Rolston's skate and past Brodeur.
A turnover in the neutral zone by New Jersey defenseman Martin Skoula resulted in a 2-0 lead for the visitors. Laperriere made a drop pass to the trailing Richards and he unloaded a shot that beat Brodeur on the glove side with 3:33 remaining.
Philadelphia had dropped Game 1 in its last six playoff series...The Flyers and Devils are meeting in the playoffs for the fourth time and first since the 2004 quarterfinals...Philadelphia finished 1-for-3 on the power play, while New Jersey was 0-for-5 with the man advantage.
