The Philadelphia Flyers twice came back to tie the New Jersey Devils from one-goal deficits in regulation, but couldn't quite seal the deal in overtime during Tuesday night's Game 3 Eastern Conference semifinal matchup. The Devils caught the Flyers in a line change during the closing minutes of the first overtime period, creating a 2-on-1 that led to Alexei Ponikarovsky's game-winner on a follow-up to his own rebound. With the loss, the Flyers fell behind 2-1 in their second-round series of the 2012 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs.
The Devils twice took the lead in regulation, but the Flyers always had an answer. Patrik Elias and Ilya Kovalchuk scored 20 seconds apart midway through the first period to give New Jersey a 2-1 lead. Matt Carle responded by beating a well-screened Martin Brodeur for his second goal of the postseason.
Zach Parise was able to again put the Devils up one goal at the 7:29 mark of the third period on a wraparound shot through the 5-hole of Ilya Bryzgalov, assisted by Kovalchuk. Three and a half minutes later Danny Briere scored on a tip-in for his eighth goal of the postseason.
Neither goaltender was particularly sharp on the night. Bryzgalov finished with 27 saves to 25 for Brodeur. Philadelphia went 1-for-5 on their powerplay opportunities while the Devils went 1-for-2.
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