Carcillo wins overtime thriller
Flyers 3, Devils 2
Carcillo wins overtime thriller
Rich Hofmann, Daily News Sports Columnist
The Flyers played their best game of the series so far, and it wasn't close. Even having to kill off a slew of penalties, they dominated the New Jersey Devils -- physically and territorially -- in a way that they hadn't been able to do in either of the first two games on the road.
Fired up by the Wachovia Center crowd, both comfortable and aggressive, they played the kind of game that they are going to need to play if they are to be the team they think they can be, if they are to make a long run in the springtime.
But the score was still 2-2 at the end of regulation.
A goal by Daniel Carcillo at 3:35 of overtime ended it, though. Mike Richards made the play from behind the net and then to the side of the net, and Carcillo banged in the rebound. And with that, the Flyers take a 2-1 lead in the series.
The shots after 60 minutes -- Flyers 28, Devils 18 -- told the story fairly accurately. After getting outplayed in probably four out of six periods at the Prudential Center in Newark, the Flyers came home and really dictated. Unlike in Game 2, when the whistles went against the Devils, the Flyers were called for nine penalties in regulation compared to the Devils' five. And even as the Devils scored both of their regulation goals on the power play -- both by Brian Rolston, both aided by screens in front by Dainius Zubrus -- the Flyers were never really robbed of their rhythm by the shorthanded interruptions.
Still, overtime.
They come in all flavors, overtimes do. Some are slam-bang, loose puck, goal -- over in a blink. Some are played on rocket fuel for the first 5 minutes before settling into cautious, nerve-wracking marathons. You never know how it is going to go. Given all of the chances the Flyers had in the first three periods, it was easy enough to predict a quick start for the Flyers in overtime. And when Danny Briere and then Jeff Carter on a doorstep rebound were stopped by Devils goaltender Martin Brodeur in the first 30 seconds, well, there it was. And then James van Riemsdyk was thwarted by Brodeur's sweeping poke check in front, well, there it was. And then when the Devils' David Clarkson was called for interference, giving the Flyers an overtime power play, well, there it was.
But you never know. Really, you never do.
Not until the puck is in the back of the net.
Booooosh!!!— scribbles- Not only did the Flyers win in overtime-- they earned it. Hard to swallow, Flyers haters?— jtgallagher1
- Such a good game.— bpkrier
- With horrible officiating giving the devils a 2-1 advantage and almost 1 full period of PP time, the flyers still outshot and outplayed the devils. THEY DESERVED TO WIN THIS GAME. WAY TO PLAY GUYS !! KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK AND DO IT AGAIN WITH ANOTHER WIN ON TUESDAY.— longislandflyerfan
- Who CARES about the regular season. You got in and that is all that counts. The new season is here and keep on playing the way you did tonight and you guys (The Flyers) will go far in the playoffs. KEEP UP THE INTENSITY AND KEEP THE HEAT ON THE DEVILS— longislandflyerfan
- Worst ref'ed game of the year BY FAR. We beat the Devils AND THE REFS. How much did they have bet on Jersey? Maybe next time they should bet on the Flyers. And Chico of the Devils announcers is terrible. The Philadelphis Flyers: Beating a higher seed, the refs and the announcers. Keep it up.— LuckyDog
- keep this up!!! this is how they should play every night!— ConservativePatriot22
- Carcillo scores the winner !!! Academy Award, though, not in his future.— petemagoop
- I'll admit it, just like almost every other Flyer fans, I didnt think a Play-off lead was possible. Booosh was shakey, lack of scoring and just plain awful play made me think that way. That didnt mean I wasnt rooting for them or I jumped ship...philly fans dont do that. Go Flyers— bigphillydad
- Who was the genius that scheduled this game for 6pm with the Phillies playing home earlier in the day? Brilliant!! What was wrong with the normal 7PM start the Flyers had all season for home games?— forphillyfromla
- silly carcillo tricks are for kids! Way to go carbomb!— phillyfan14
- If I have to listen to the Devils announcers for one more game I think Ill shoot myself. I cant get CSN here in Syracuse so am forced to listen to their garbage. Watch MSG+ and youll see what Im talking about. Everytime the Devils score its "SCAAAARRRRR!!!!" Scar? Are you serious?— Lintltj5
- Car bomb, way to go! Someone needs to tell Kovalchuk its a team game, he is killing Jersey with his hot doggin and selfish play, keep up the great work Kovy! Flyers in 5.— Fabulous
- Way to go Lavie !!! Great line matchi— FlyerfanFromMontreal
- keep geting cutt off— FlyerfanFromMontreal
