GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: NHL: NEW JERSEY (7-12) at PHILADELPHIA (11-7)

NHL: NEW JERSEY at PHILADELPHIA

<div class="pre">NHL AT PHILADELPHIA
PHI GOALIE CHANGE
MARTIN BIRON, 40:00 1ST PRD
NJD GOALIE CHANGE
MARTIN BRODEUR, 40:00 1ST PRD</div>

 

NHL: NEW JERSEY at PHILADELPHIA

<div class="pre">NHL NEW JERSEY 4
PHILADELPHIA 1 19:55 LEFT, 3RD PRD</div>

 

NHL: NEW JERSEY at PHILADELPHIA

<div class="pre">NHL AT PHILADELPHIA
PHI GOALIE CHANGE
ANTERO NIITTYMAKI, START 3RD PRD</div>

 

NHL: NEW JERSEY at PHILADELPHIA

<div class="pre">NHL NEW JERSEY 4
PHILADELPHIA 2
3RD PRD: PHI - SCOTTIE UPSHALL 4 (MIKE RICHARDS, MIKE KNUBLE) 0:27</div>

 

NHL: NEW JERSEY at PHILADELPHIA

<div class="pre">NHL NEW JERSEY 4
PHILADELPHIA 2 18:58 LEFT, 3RD PRD</div>

 

NHL: NEW JERSEY at PHILADELPHIA

<div class="pre">NHL NEW JERSEY 5
PHILADELPHIA 2
3RD PRD: NJD - BRIAN GIONTA 5 (ZACH PARISE) 2:33</div>

 

NHL: NEW JERSEY at PHILADELPHIA

<div class="pre">NHL NEW JERSEY 6
PHILADELPHIA 2
3RD PRD: NJD - ZACH PARISE 6 (PATRIK ELIAS, BRIAN GIONTA) 3:05</div>

 

NHL: NEW JERSEY at PHILADELPHIA

<div class="pre">NHL NEW JERSEY 6
PHILADELPHIA 2 12:00 LEFT, 3RD PRD</div>

 

NHL: NEW JERSEY at PHILADELPHIA

<div class="pre">NHL NEW JERSEY 6
PHILADELPHIA 2 8:00 LEFT, 3RD PRD</div>

 

NHL: NEW JERSEY at PHILADELPHIA

<div class="pre">NHL NEW JERSEY 6
PHILADELPHIA 2 4:00 LEFT, 3RD PRD</div>

 

NHL: NEW JERSEY at PHILADELPHIA

<div class="pre">NHL NEW JERSEY 6
PHILADELPHIA 2 1:00 LEFT, 3RD PRD</div>

 

NHL: NEW JERSEY at PHILADELPHIA

<div class="pre">NHL FINAL 1ST 2ND 3RD TOTAL
--- --- --- -----
NEW JERSEY 2 2 2 6
PHILADELPHIA 0 1 1 2 FINAL

GOAL SCORING:

1ST PRD: NJD - DAINIUS ZUBRUS 4 (ANDREW GREENE, TRAVIS ZAJAC) 10:04
NJD - KAREL RACHUNEK 1 (DAINIUS ZUBRUS) 12:47
2ND PRD: NJD - PATRIK ELIAS 4 (ZACH PARISE, JOHNNY ODUYA) 3:33
PHI - MIKE RICHARDS 11 (SCOTTIE UPSHALL, KIMMO TIMONEN)
15:54
NJD - JAY PANDOLFO 7 (UNASSISTED) 18:18
3RD PRD: PHI - SCOTTIE UPSHALL 4 (MIKE RICHARDS, MIKE KNUBLE) 0:27
NJD - BRIAN GIONTA 5 (ZACH PARISE) 2:33
NJD - ZACH PARISE 6 (PATRIK ELIAS, BRIAN GIONTA) 3:05

POWER-PLAY CONVERSIONS: NJD - 0 OF 4, PHI - 0 OF 7.

SHOTS ON GOAL: 1ST 2ND 3RD TOTAL
--- --- --- -----
NJD 9 13 2 24
PHI 8 7 13 28

GOALIES: NJD - MARTIN BRODEUR
PHI - MARTIN BIRON, ANTERO NIITTYMAKI (3RD)

OFFICIALS: REF - BRAD WATSON, CHRIS ROONEY
LIN - DAN SCHACHTE, DARREN GIBBS

ATT: 19,621</div>

 

NHL: NEW JERSEY at PHILADELPHIA

<div class="pre">------------------------------------
New Jersey 2 2 2 --6
Philadelphia 0 1 1 --2
------------------------------------

FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: 1, New Jersey, Dainius Zubrus 4 (Andrew
Greene, Travis Zajac), 10:04. 2, New Jersey, Karel Rachunek 1 (Dainius
Zubrus), 12:47. Penalties: K Rachunek, Njd (hooking), 3:08; M Knuble,
Phi (), 6:06; J Smith, Phi (holding), 7:59; S Upshall, Phi (slashing),
19:01.

SECOND PERIOD -- Scoring: 3, New Jersey, Patrik Elias 4 (Zach Parise,
Johnny Oduya), 3:33. 4, Philadelphia, Mike Richards 11 (Scottie
Upshall, Kimmo Timonen), 15:54. 5, New Jersey, Jay Pandolfo 7
(Unassisted), 18:18. Penalties: J Madden, Njd (holding), 3:55; K
Rachunek, Njd (double minor high sticking), 7:08; L Kukkonen, Phi
(hooking), 12:17.

THIRD PERIOD -- Scoring: 6, Philadelphia, Scottie Upshall 4 (Mike
Richards, Mike Knuble), 0:27. 7, New Jersey, Brian Gionta 5 (Zach
Parise), 2:33. 8, New Jersey, Zach Parise 6 (Patrik Elias, Brian
Gionta), 3:05. Penalties: S Brylin, Njd (hooking), 6:33; J
Langenbrunner, Njd (slashing), 9:23; V Vishnevski, Njd (hooking),
14:46.

Shots on goal:
---------------------------------------
New Jersey 9 13 2 --24
Philadelphia 8 7 13 --28
---------------------------------------

Power-play Conversions: New Jersey - 0 of 4, Philadelphia - 0 of 7.
Goalies : New Jersey, Martin Brodeur (28 shots, 26 saves; record:
6-10-1). Philadelphia, Martin Biron (22 shots, 18 saves; record:
10-6-1), Antero Niittymaki (start of 3rd period, 2, 0). A: 19,621.
Referees: Brad Watson, Chris Rooney. Linesmen: Dan Schachte, Darren
Gibbs.</div>

 

NHL: NEW JERSEY at PHILADELPHIA

<div class="pre">** CONFIRMED **
NHL
NEW JERSEY 6
PHILADELPHIA 2</div>

 

PHILADELPHIA (Ticker) -- Martin Brodeur's wait is over.

The three-time Vezina Trophy winner finally notched elusivecareer victory No. 500 by making 26 saves as the New JerseyDevils defeated the Philadelphia Flyers, 6-2, on Saturday in abattle of Atlantic Division rivals.


Brodeur, 35, joins Hall of Famer Patrick Roy as the onlygoaltenders with at least 500 victories. Roy is first on theall-time list with 551 career wins.


After beating the Flyers, 4-1, on November 8 for his 499th win,Brodeur had lost three straight starts in his bid for No. 500.

Six different Devils scored to hand the Flyers their firstregulation loss at home this season.


Dainius Zubrus, who burned his former team with two goals inthat victory on November 8, opened the scoring midway throughthe first period.


Defenseman Andy Greene's blast from the left faceoff circle wasstopped by Martin Biron, but Zubrus skated freely in front ofthe net and deposited the rebound past the goalie for his fourthtally of the season.


The Devils doubled the advantage just under three minutes later.

At his own blue line, Zubrus pushed the puck ahead to KarelRachunek. The Czech defenseman skated up the right wing andblasted a shot from just inside the blue line that beat Bironbetween his right pad and blocker for his first goal of thecampaign.


Patrik Elias pushed the advantage to three just 3:33 into thesecond period. Defenseman Johnny Oduya blasted a shot frominside the blue line that was stopped by Biron.


The netminder stopped the follow-up shot by Zach Parise butcould not control the rebound. In the ensuing scramble, Eliasbanged the puck into an open right side of the net to make it3-0.


Mike Richards finally got the Flyers on the board with hiscareer high-tying 11th goal.


After defenseman Lasse Kukkonen's shot from in close was denied,a mad scramble ensued. Richards, who was stationed on thedoorstep, found the puck and lifted it over a prone Brodeur at15:54.


Jay Pandolfo responded quickly for the Devils, racing down theleft wing and wristing a shot from the left circle that beatBiron inside the left goalpost with 1:42 remaining in thesession to give the Devils a 4-1 lead. It was Pandolfo'steam-leading seventh goal of the season.


Scottie Upshall got the Flyers back within two just 27 secondsinto the third period, but the Devils scored goals 32 secondsapart to ice the game.


Brian Gionta backhanded a shot while falling to the ice that hitthe side of the mask of Antero Niittymaki, who replaced Bironto start the period. The puck landed in the back of the net at2:33 to give New Jersey a 5-2 bulge.


Parise beat Niittymaki shortly thereafter to cap the scoring.

Niittymaki allowed two goals while not recording a save. Bironturned aside 18 shots in two periods of work.

 

NHL: NEW JERSEY at PHILADELPHIA

<div class="pre">------------------------------------
New Jersey 2 2 2 --6
Philadelphia 0 1 1 --2
------------------------------------

FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: 1, New Jersey, Dainius Zubrus 4 (Andrew
Greene, Travis Zajac), 10:04. 2, New Jersey, Karel Rachunek 1 (Dainius
Zubrus), 12:47. Penalties: K Rachunek, Njd (hooking), 3:08; M Knuble,
Phi (slashing), 6:06; J Smith, Phi (holding), 7:59; S Upshall, Phi
(slashing), 19:01.

SECOND PERIOD -- Scoring: 3, New Jersey, Patrik Elias 4 (Zach Parise,
Johnny Oduya), 3:33. 4, Philadelphia, Mike Richards 11 (Scottie
Upshall, Kimmo Timonen), 15:54. 5, New Jersey, Jay Pandolfo 7
(Unassisted), 18:18. Penalties: J Madden, Njd (holding), 3:55; K
Rachunek, Njd (double minor high sticking), 7:09; L Kukkonen, Phi
(hooking), 12:17.

THIRD PERIOD -- Scoring: 6, Philadelphia, Scottie Upshall 4 (Mike
Richards, Mike Knuble), 0:27. 7, New Jersey, Brian Gionta 5 (Zach
Parise), 2:33. 8, New Jersey, Zach Parise 6 (Patrik Elias, Brian
Gionta), 3:05. Penalties: S Brylin, Njd (hooking), 6:33; J
Langenbrunner, Njd (slashing), 9:23; V Vishnevski, Njd (hooking),
14:40.

Shots on goal:
---------------------------------------
New Jersey 9 13 2 --24
Philadelphia 8 7 13 --28
---------------------------------------

Power-play Conversions: New Jersey - 0 of 4, Philadelphia - 0 of 7.
Goalies : New Jersey, Martin Brodeur (28 shots, 26 saves; record:
6-10-1). Philadelphia, Martin Biron (22 shots, 18 saves; record:
10-6-1), Antero Niittymaki (20:00 of 3rd period, 2, 0). A: 19,621.
Referees: Brad Watson, Chris Rooney. Linesmen: Dan Schachte, Darren
Gibbs.</div>

 

NHL: NEW JERSEY at PHILADELPHIA

<div class="pre">-----------------------------------------
NEW JERSEY 2 2 2 --6
PHILADELPHIA 0 1 1 --2
-----------------------------------------

FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: 1, New Jersey, Dainius Zubrus 4 (Andrew
Greene, Travis Zajac), 10:04. 2, New Jersey, Karel Rachunek 1 (Dainius
Zubrus), 12:47. Penalties: K Rachunek, Njd (hooking), 3:08; M Knuble,
Phi (slashing), 6:06; J Smith, Phi (holding), 7:59; S Upshall, Phi
(slashing), 19:01.

SECOND PERIOD -- Scoring: 3, New Jersey, Patrik Elias 4 (Zach Parise,
Johnny Oduya), 3:33. 4, Philadelphia, Mike Richards 11 (Scottie
Upshall, Kimmo Timonen), 15:54. 5, New Jersey, Jay Pandolfo 7
(Unassisted), 18:18. Penalties: J Madden, Njd (holding), 3:55; K
Rachunek, Njd (double minor high sticking), 7:09; L Kukkonen, Phi
(hooking), 12:17.

THIRD PERIOD -- Scoring: 6, Philadelphia, Scottie Upshall 4 (Mike
Richards, Mike Knuble), 0:27. 7, New Jersey, Brian Gionta 5 (Zach
Parise), 2:33. 8, New Jersey, Zach Parise 6 (Patrik Elias, Brian
Gionta), 3:05. Penalties: S Brylin, Njd (hooking), 6:33; J
Langenbrunner, Njd (slashing), 9:23; V Vishnevski, Njd (hooking),
14:40.

Shots on goal:
----------------------------------------
NEW JERSEY 9 13 2 --24
PHILADELPHIA 8 7 13 --28
----------------------------------------

Power-play Conversions: NJD - 0 of 4, PHI - 0 of 7. Goalies : New
Jersey, Martin Brodeur (28 shots, 26 saves; record: 6-10-1).
Philadelphia, Martin Biron (22 shots, 18 saves; record: 10-6-1),
Antero Niittymaki (20:00 of 3rd period, 2, 0). A: 19,621. Referees:
Brad Watson, Chris Rooney. Linesmen: Dan Schachte, Darren Gibbs.

INDIVIDUAL PLAYER STATISTICS

NEW JERSEY PHILADELPHIA
G A +/- Shots G A +/- Shots
R Pelley 0 0 even 0 J Dowd 0 0 -1 0
J Madden 0 0 +2 2 J Lupul 0 0 -1 4
B Gionta 1 1 +1 3 J Carter 0 0 -1 2
J Langenbrunner0 0 +1 2 M Richards 1 1 even 6
D Zubrus 1 1 +2 1 S Hartnell 0 0 -2 0
S Brylin 0 0 even 1 R Umberger 0 0 -2 2
T Zajac 0 1 +2 1 J Smith 0 0 -2 0
V Vishnevski 0 0 even 1 M Knuble 0 1 even 1
J Pandolfo 1 0 +1 1 S Kapanen 0 0 -2 0
A Asham 0 0 even 0 L Kukkonen 0 0 -3 1
D Clarkson 0 0 +1 0 R Cote 0 0 even 0
P Elias 1 1 +1 4 K Timonen 0 1 +1 2
M Mottau 0 0 even 1 D Briere 0 0 -1 2
K Rachunek 1 0 +4 3 B Coburn 0 0 -2 1
J Oduya 0 1 even 2 D Tolpeko 0 0 -1 3
A Greene 0 1 +4 1 R Jones 0 0 even 1
S Brookbank 0 0 even 0 R Fitzpatrick 0 0 -3 1
Z Parise 1 2 +1 1 S Upshall 1 1 even 2
M Rupp HEALTHY S Gagne CONCUSSION
P Martin LOWER BODY INJUR B Eager HEALTHY
O Malmivaara HEALTHY</div>

 

PHILADELPHIA (Ticker) -- Martin Brodeur's wait is over.

The three-time Vezina Trophy winner finally notched elusivecareer victory No. 500 by making 26 saves as the New JerseyDevils defeated the Philadelphia Flyers, 6-2, on Saturday in abattle of Atlantic Division rivals.


Brodeur, 35, joins Hall of Famer Patrick Roy as the onlygoaltenders with at least 500 victories. Roy is first on theall-time list with 551 career wins.


"It's hard to believe," Brodeur said. "You go out to play andbe successful. I've been fortunate to stay healthy and playwith a lot of good teams. The next thing you know, you hitthese numbers."


After beating the Flyers, 4-1, on November 8 for his 499th win,Brodeur had lost three straight starts in his bid for No. 500.

"We've been working hard and have been playing well," Brodeursaid. "The guys have talked a lot about winning this for me. Ittook a little longer than we thought, but the guys did it in agood way for me."


Six different Devils scored to hand the Flyers their firstregulation loss at home this season.


Dainius Zubrus, who burned his former team with two goals inthat victory on November 8, opened the scoring midway throughthe first period.


Defenseman Andy Greene's blast from the left faceoff circle wasstopped by Martin Biron, but Zubrus skated freely in front ofthe net and deposited the rebound past the goalie for his fourthtally of the season.


"I was a Flyer a long time ago," Zubrus said. "I still havefriends that come over to say hello. It's just one of thosecoincidences, I guess."


The Devils doubled the advantage just under three minutes later.

At his own blue line, Zubrus pushed the puck ahead to KarelRachunek. The Czech defenseman skated up the right wing andblasted a shot from just inside the blue line that beat Bironbetween his right pad and blocker for his first goal of thecampaign.


Patrik Elias pushed the advantage to three just 3:33 into thesecond period. Defenseman Johnny Oduya blasted a shot frominside the blue line that was stopped by Biron.


The netminder stopped the follow-up shot by Zach Parise butcould not control the rebound. In the ensuing scramble, Eliasbanged the puck into an open right side of the net to make it3-0.


Elias, who has been Brodeur's teammate for the better part of 10seasons, was honored to be part of the historic win.

"You look around the history of the league and it doesn't happentoo often," Elias said. "It's a privilege to be a part of hiscareer for quite a long time. Having a guy like that, it givesyou the chance to succeed. It's very well-deserved."

Mike Richards finally got the Flyers on the board with hiscareer high-tying 11th goal.


After defenseman Lasse Kukkonen's shot from in close was denied,a mad scramble ensued. Richards, who was stationed on thedoorstep, found the puck and lifted it over a prone Brodeur at15:54.


Jay Pandolfo responded quickly for the Devils, racing down theleft wing and wristing a shot from the left circle that beatBiron inside the left goalpost with 1:42 remaining in thesession to give the Devils a 4-1 lead. It was Pandolfo'steam-leading seventh goal of the season.


Scottie Upshall got the Flyers back within two just 27 secondsinto the third period, but the Devils scored goals 32 secondsapart to ice the game.


Brian Gionta backhanded a shot while falling to the ice that hitthe side of the mask of Antero Niittymaki, who replaced Bironto start the period. The puck landed in the back of the net at2:33 to give New Jersey a 5-2 bulge.


Parise beat Niittymaki shortly thereafter to cap the scoring.

"You guys have been talking to us about not being able to scoregoals for a long time," Parise said. "We know we're capable ofdoing it. We played a great game, and if we can build on it,we're going to be a tough team to beat."


Brodeur added one more memorable save for the highlight reel ashe reached back to make a glove stop on a shot by Daniel Briere.

"It was Marty's night tonight," Briere said. "The save that hemade was one of the best of the year. I know that it was aspecial night for him, but I wish it didn't happen against us,to be honest."


Niittymaki allowed two goals while not recording a save. Bironturned aside 18 shots in two periods of work.