The Flyers opened to a throwback video from the Stanley Cup glory days, then displayed a quick fuse that showed flashes of the old Broad Street Bullies spirit and revved up the crowd.
The bond with the past and the rowdy home fans gave a nice emotional lift, but it was Jeff Carter and Mike Richards that jolted the offence early and really got Philadelphia back in its playoff series against
Pittsburgh.
Carter and Richards scored their first goals of the series early for a sorely needed fast start on home ice. Claude Giroux and Simon Gagne put the Flyers ahead for good in a 6-3
victory over the Penguins yesterday.
Pittsburgh leads the opening-round series 2-1 and Game 4 is tomorrow in Philadelphia.
"It was a huge game. We didn't want to go down 3-0 because that's a tough task," Flyers centre Danny Briere said. "We have to enjoy it for a few minutes here."
Unlike last season's Eastern Conference finals when the Flyers flopped at home against the Penguins in Game 3, this year's teamcame out charged from the opening faceoff.
Carter, the NHL's scored-leading goal scorer, scored his first of the postseason three minutes into the game, and Richards made it two goals on two shots for the Flyers 2:15 later.
The Flyers put the pressure on early for the first time and were determined not to get outmuscled against the Penguins. The Flyers, the most penalized team in the NHL, and the Penguins never stopped scrapping and put on quite a show for the energized crowd.
"You look at Game 1, and I thought we sat back too much and let them dictate the pace," Briere said. "We can't sit back and let them dictate because guys like Crosby and Malkin are going to hurt you."
Evegni Malkin scored two goals for the Penguins, who are still waiting for Sidney Crosby to catch fire. Crosby had two assists in Game 3, but has only one goal in three games.
While the shoving and punching invigorated the atmosphere, it was the rapid goal scoring after a punchless first two games that really made the difference for the Flyers. The two goals in the first period were only one less than the Flyers scored in the first two losses.
Martin Biron stopped 26 for the Flyers.
Devils 3, 'Canes 2 (OT)
RALEIGH, N.C. -- Travis Zajac scored at 4:58 of overtime and the New Jersey Devils beat the Carolina Hurricanes 3-2 in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference playoff series.
Zach Parise scored for the third straight game and assisted on Zajac's winner, giving the Devils a 2-1 series lead and helping them bounce back from an overtime loss two nights earlier on home ice by turning the tables on the Hurricanes. Game 4 is tomorrow in Raleigh.
Parise started the decisive sequence by attempting to throw the puck toward Brian Rolston, but it clicked off Anton Babchuk's skate and to Zajac in the slot. Cam Ward stopped his wrist shot with his pads, but Zajac followed it by flipping it high past the Carolina goalie for his second career playoff goal.
Brian Gionta added a goal, Zajac assisted on Parise's goal, and Martin Brodeur stopped 28 shots for New Jersey.
Ducks 3, Sharke 2
SAN JOSE -- Andrew Ebbett broke a tie with his first career playoff goal from an awkward angle with 10:16 left, and the Anaheim Ducks stunned the top-seeded San Jose Sharks with another defensive gem in a 3-2 victory, taking a 2-0 lead in their first-round playoff series.
