Devils rally, grab 3-1 edge on Flyers

Associated Press

NEWARK, N.J.

Dainius Zubrus scored two goals and the New Jersey Devils rallied from an early two-goal deficit and pushed the Philadelphia Flyers to the brink of elimination with a 4-2 victory Sunday night in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinal.

Zubrus put New Jersey ahead 3-2 late in the second period and iced it with an empty-net goal in the final minute.

Minutes after his first goal, Zubrus took a questionable hit to the head from Claude Giroux, a hit that Devils coach Peter DeBoer felt the NHL should examine before Game 5 on Tuesday night in Philadelphia.

“It was a great effort from the guys,” said Devils goaltender Martin Brodeur, who had an easy night on his 40th birthday. “We started not the way we wanted to start the game. We get bang-bang — a power-play goal and a short-handed goal — but we beared down afterward and we dominated the game.”

Petr Sykora and Marek Zidlicky also scored for the Devils, who can advance to their first conference final since 2003. New Jersey has never lost a playoff series after taking a 3-1 lead.

In winning their third straight, the Devils outshot Philadelphia 43-22, and Brodeur even picked up an assist on Zubrus’ final goal on a night as he became the first goaltender to appear in an NHL playoff game as a teenager and a 40-year-old.

Scott Hartnell and Giroux scored first-period goals for the Flyers, who once again were a step slow.

“We just have to play better,” Giroux said. “We should know by now what we’re supposed to do at all times. And there’s not one guy out there that’s going to quit.”

The question for the Flyers is whether they will have Giroux, who has eight goals in the postseason.

“It was quick play. And hockey is a quick game. I think I should be fine,” Giroux said.

DeBoer wasn’t so sure.

“For me, it looks like the textbook hit that they’re trying to take out of the game,” DeBoer said.

The Flyers seemed to come apart at the end of the game. Defenseman Kimmo Tomonen took a foolish penalty in the closing minutes and Philadelphia never got off a good shot after pulling goalie Ilya Bryzgalov in the final minute.