Devils 4, Flyers 1
DEVILS 4, FLYERS 1: David Clarkson scored the game winner with less than nine minutes remaining, one of four third-period goals for New Jersey in its series-evening victory over host Philadelphia.
Travis Zajac, Bryce Salvador and rookie Adam Larsson had the other third-period goals for the Devils, who have seized home-ice advantage in the best-of-seven series Eastern Conference semifinal series. Game 3 goes Thursday night in New Jersey.
The Devils dominated the opening two periods against Philadelphia but had only a 1-0 deficit to show for it. Their luck changed in the third, as Larsson - playing in his first career postseason game - knotted things up with a shot that beat Flyers netminder Ilya Bryzgalov high on the short side at 3:08.
That set the stage for Clarkson, who put New Jersey ahead for good at 11:17. The veteran forward drove to the net and banged home a rebound of a Zach Parise shot before winding up on top of the Philadelphia net.
Zajac provided some insurance at the 14-minute mark, converting a backhand wraparound for his fifth goal in nine preseason games. He scored just twice in 15 regular-season outings.
Salvador iced things with an empty netter while Martin Brodeur turned aside 19 shots for the Devils, whose league-best penalty-killing unit kept Philadelphia scoreless on four power-play chances.
The Flyers struck first at 2:53 of the opening period. Matt Read's initial shot deflected off the side of the net and caromed to teammate Peter Harrold, who centered the puck back to Read for a one-timer that beat Brodeur low.
The Devils poured on the pressure in a dominant second period - outshooting the Flyers 12-2 in the frame - but couldn't solve Bryzgalov, who finished with 31 saves in defeat.
GAME NOTEBOOK: New Jersey prevailed without leading scorer Ilya Kovalchuk, who is dealing with a lower-body injury. ... The Flyers' power play, which decimated the Pittsburgh Penguins in the opening round, has struck just once in 11 chances against New Jersey. ... Larsson, who was a healthy scratch for the entire first round and the opening game against Philadelphia, had two goals and 16 assists in 65 regular-season games with the Devils. ... Salvador's goal was his first in 100 games.