Devils Stop Flyers In Midair
A little anticipation went a long way in the New Jersey Devils' latest victory over the Philadelphia Flyers.
"I knew the puck was going to get out of the zone," said Brian Rolston, who scored a shorthanded goal as New Jersey beat Philadelphia 3-2 Thursday night to end the Flyers' season-opening unbeaten streak at give games.
Rolston, who also had an assist, broke a 1-1 tie with 1:19 left in the second period. He beat Philadelphia defenseman Dave Babych to a loose puck and flipped a shot over goalie John Vanbiesbrouck's shoulder.
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"I just took off and it was a foot race to the goal," Rolston said. "Then I just concentrated on putting it in the net. It was a big goal for our team and for myself as well."
Vanbiesbrouck praised Rolston.
"You have to give him all the credit in the world," Vanbiesbrouck said. "It was very unusual. I had to stay with him and then all of a sudden it just laid on his stick. It was almost like he cast it into the net."
Brendan
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| The Devils dealt John Vanbiesbrouck his first loss in his new uniform. (AP) |
McKay, who missed the first four games of the season because of a groin injury, made it 3-1 when he scored while falling down in the slot 29 seconds into the final period.
Lindros, tied with Detroit's Brendan Shanahan for the NHL lead with six goals, chipped the puck past goalie Martin Brodeur at 13:06 of the third period.
Brodeur had 20 saves, including a pair of crucial stops on John LeClair in the last two minutes.
"I feel like I let the guys down tonight," LeClair said. "We had a lot of great scoring chances. The puck just didn't go in."
Desjardins gave the Flyers a 1-0 lead on a power play at 17:47 of the first period, one-timing a shot past Brodeur's outstretched glove following a centering pass from Rod Brind'Amour.
New Jersey tied it at 6:44 of the second period when Morrison redirected Jason Arnott's shot from behind the right circle. It was Arnott's 150th NHL assist.
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