Devils pull away late, tie series with Game 2 victory

By Bud L. Ellis

Tied at 3-3 with time getting late in the third period of a game they really needed, the New Jersey Devils found a way to take the lead and tie the Eastern Conference quarterfinals.

Dainius Zubrus stuck home a loose puck with 4:04 to go Friday night, sending the Devils to a 5-3 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers in Game 2 of their first-round playoff series in Newark.

The win evens the series at one win apiece. Game 3 is Sunday in Philadelphia, and Game 4 will be there Tuesday.

After losing Game 1 Wednesday, the Devils started quickly, getting a short-handed goal from Zach Parise just 2:45 in to stake New Jersey to a 1-0 lead. New Jersey gave up two goals later in the period to fall behind 2-1.

The Devils answered in the second. Colin White tied the game at 2-2 3:44 into the period, and Andy Greene’s poer-play tally pushed New Jersey ahead 3-2 at the 13:25 mark.

Philly fought back to tie the game late in the second, but Zubrus pushed home the game-winner with 4:04 left. Ilya Kovalchuk added an empty-netter with 33 seconds to go, and Martin Brodeur made 26 saves in the victory.

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Friday, April 16, 2010 at 9:07 pm by bud

Tags: Andy Greene, Colin White, Dainius Zubrus, Ilya Kovalchuk, Martin Brodeur, National Hockey League, New Jersey Devils, Philadelphia Flyers, Zach Parise