Devils straighten up-defeat Flyers 5-3

The New Jersey Devils watched a fast start and lead disappear within two minutes as the Philadelphia Flyers scored three first period goals and a 3-1 lead for the visitors.
Thereafter the Devils chipped away,tied the game in the second and when David Clarkson redirected (10) a Adam Larsson shot into the net,the Devils had completed their rally for a 5-3 win.
Ilya Kovalchuk assisted on the first three goals and Patrik Elias finished the game with a goal (4) and two assists.
The remaining Devils goals to Steve Bernier (4 empty net),Alexei Ponikarovsky (3) and Travis Zajac (3).
The Devils travel to the dump in Nassau County tonight at seven for their last trip of the season against the Islanders.

Hell Raisers

1) Horrible first period.
As easy as it is to look at the scoresheet and think that Martin Brodeur played poorly in the first period,it just is not true.
Brodeur's play kept Philadelphia from at least two more goals in the first period at minimum,which in the end allowed the Devils to stay afloat until the rally was started...

2) Terrific play by Adam Larsson on the game winning goal by David Clarkson.
The Devils were pressing the action on the forecheck when the Flyers Matt Read attempted to clear the puck.
Larsson grabbed the puck in mid air,when it truly should have made it out of the zone and almost in one smooth motion moved the disc to the ice and fired the puck on net.
A super play and in what was his best game of the season,Adam Larsson shows the promise of a number one defenseman....

3) David Clarkson hit double digits in goals with the game winner as he continues to lead the team in goals.
Looks like a nice contract on the horizon for Clarkson this summer..

4) Alexei Ponikarovsky scored in his return to the team off an Ilya Kovalchuk pass enabled him to beat Ilya Brzygalov..
Ponikarovsky played on the Kovalchuk line with Travis Zajac and did not miss a beat.
The return of Ponikarovsky means less PT for Stefan Matteau,who was scratched and will be the main loser with the addition to the lineup.

5) Martin Brodeur assisted on the Ponikarovsky goal with a long bomb of a pass to Ilya Kovalchuk.
Plays like that is what makes Brodeur Brodeur-the unparalleled handling of the puck.

6) Mattias Tedenby suffered a serious cut to his face in Albany as the A-Devils took on Adirondack.
Tedenby drove to the net and as he went to the ice was slashed by an opponent and will require some plastic surgery to correct the issue.
Best wishes to Tedenby.

Photo Credit;AP Photo