Devils take 3-0 series lead

New Jersey jumped out early and blanked the Rangers, 3-0.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
NEW YORK -- Patrik Elias set up Jamie Langenbrunner 68 seconds after the opening faceoff and then scored his third goal of the series eight minutes later in the Devils' 3-0 victory over surprise starter Jaromir Jagr and the New York Rangers Wednesday night.
Martin Brodeur stopped 25 shots for his 21st career postseason shutout, two off the NHL mark held by Patrick Roy, as the Devils won their 14th straight game.
New Jersey took advantage of New York's deficient special teams in winning the opening two games of the series, and then built a commanding 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven matchup by scoring three goals at even strength.
Not even the unexpected return of Jagr, who is battling a left shoulder injury, could spark the Rangers in their first home playoff game in nine years.
Flyers 4, Sabres 2
PHILADELPHIA -- Peter Forsberg scored two goals and Robert Esche made 26 saves to give Philadelphia some home-ice tonic.
The Sabres still lead the best-of-seven series 2-1 with Game 4 on Friday night, also in Philadelphia.
The Flyers were humiliated in their six-goal loss on Monday night, and they were left looking for an edge as coaches Ken Hitchcock and Lindy Ruff got into a verbal spat.
Alex Kotalik gave the Sabres a 1-0 lead 31/2 minutes into the game, but the Flyers scored the next three goals. Brian Savage tied the game in the first period with a short-handed goal.
The Forsberg scored two in the second period for a 3-1 lead.
Buffalo closed to 3-2 early in the third when Tim Connolly scored, making for a very tense final period. But Esche made the lead stand up, and Simon Gagne scored an empty-net goal with 15 seconds remaining to put the game away.
Hurricanes 2, Canadiens 1
MONTREAL -- Eric Staal scored a power-play goal 3:38 into overtime to help Carolina avoid falling into an 0-3 hole in the first-round playoff series.
Hurricanes captain Rod Brind'Amour tied the game 11:27 into the third period with his third goal in two games.
Montreal's Tomas Plekanec was sent off for hooking 2:35 into overtime and Staal won it with a drive from the point that went through traffic and past goalie Cristobal Huet.
Rookie Cam Ward stopped 27 shots in his first career playoff start as the second-seeded Hurricanes recovered from two home losses to draw within 2-1 in the best-of-seven series.
Game 4 is Friday night in Montreal. The Hurricanes have never come back to win a playoff series after losing the first two games.
Canadiens captain Saku Koivu left early in the second period, bleeding from a cut in the area of his left eye after he was clipped by Hurricanes right wing Justin Williams' stick while cutting past Carolina's net.
Richard Zednik had given the Canadiens a 1-0 lead on a power play 9:07 into the second.
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