Flyers Down Devils

John Vanbiesbrouck came out of retirement in midseason form. Unfortunately for the New Jersey Devils, that wasn't good enough against the Eastern Conference-leading Philadelphia Flyers.

Philadelphia's Simon Gagne spoiled Vanbiesbrouck's return to the net with a second-period goal and the Flyers remained unbeaten against the Devils in four games this season, posting a 1-0 win on Wednesday night. The story of the game, though, was the 38-year-old Vanbiesbrouck. The one-time Flyer made 31 saves his first game since April, and he single-handedly gave New Jersey a chance to win. "It was one of the better performances I've seen out of a goaltender this season," said Jeremy Roenick, who set up Gagne's 25th goal. "He should be commended for coming back and focusing. He showed his competitiveness by the way he played tonight. He was fantastic."

It was obvious, "The Beezer" was on his game from the start. He stopped two big blasts by Flyers defenseman Dan McGillis on a two-man powerplay early and he made a great stop on a shot by Mark Recchi in front right after that.

"I never questioned myself," said Vanbiesbrouck, who decided to come out of retirement before the Olympic break. "If I questioned myself I never would have done this. I was confident."

Vanbiesbrouck was at his best against John LeClair, stopping five shots, almost all good scoring chances.

When LeClair was stymied twice in the third period, he threw his hands up in the air wondering what he had to do to score.

"He had a tremendous game," LeClair said of his former teammate. "I know I could have had three or four."

The only one that beat Vanbiesbrouck was Gagne's shot at 7:59 of the second period.

Gagne, who had a goal and three assists in six games as Team Canada won Olympic gold, took a pass from Roenick, skated around Brian Rafalski in the left circle and beat Vanbiesbrouck.

"I still don't know how he slipped it in there," Vanbiesbrouck said. "It hit my stick, the inside of my pad. I felt all of that and when you feel that stuff, you go "Oh, geez.""

Gagne said he was just trying to get a quick shot.

"Maybe I surprised Beezer on that shot," Gagne said.

Roman Cechmanek made the goal stand up, making 22 saves to record his fourth shutout of the season.

Cechmanek's best stop was a snapping glove save on Bobby Holik in the first period. He got lucky in the second period when he mishandled a shot by Jim McKenzie and the puck slid wide of the net. His best save in the final period was a blocker save in close on Petr Sykora.

Donald Brashear also made a big play, hustling back to break up a 2-on-1 with Sykora and Patrik Elias on the rush for New Jersey.

"Every one of our players was on top of his game tonight," Flyers coach Bill Barber said. "It was like getting an A+ on an exam."

The Devils were forced to play with four defenseman for almost the final 37 minutes. Andrei Zyuzin left early in the first period when he was hit on a left ankle by a shot. Olympic gold medalist Scott Niedermayer left in the second period after falling and hitting his head against the knee of Flyers forward Ruslan Fedotenko. The injury was diagnosed as a pinched nerve in his neck.

Notes: Devils captain Scott Stevens played a season-high 31:02. Rafalski played 27:56, and it would have been more had he not lost an edge on his skate and broken a boot lace in the third period. ... Vanbiesbrouck did not see any action in the playoffs last year and he retired after New Jersey lost Game 7 of the Stanley Cup final. ... The sellout was the fourth of the season for New Jersey. ...The Flyers are 3-0-1 vs. the Devils this season. ... Rick Tocchet, who missed first 57 games with a knee injury, was flipped head over heels in the second period after Stevens ducked to avoid him. Tocchet got the second assist on Gagne's goal, his first point of the season. ... The shutout was Cechmanek's 14th of his career and first against New Jersey.

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Author: 6 ABC-AP