Flyers Pound Devils 6-3

It was the first meeting in Philadelphia between the clubs since New Jersey rallied from a 3-1 deficit in last season`s Eastern Conference finals -- winning two of the final three games on the Flyers` home ice.

Ruslan Fedotenko and Chris McAllister also scored for the Flyers, who snapped a five-game regular-season winless streak (0-4-1) against the Devils. The teams tied 1-1 earlier this season.

Gagne leads the Flyers with 13 goals and McAllister snapped a 94-game scoring drought, dating to Dec. 6, 1999. The duo scored 22 seconds apart late in the third period as Philadelphia extended its lead to 6-3. New Flyers coach Bill Barber improved to 2-0-2.

Alexander Mogilny scored twice and Patrik Elias added his 13th goal for New Jersey. Mogilny gave the Devils a 1-0 lead 1:15 after the opening faceoff and on the game`s first shot.

The Flyers recovered to take a 3-1 lead into the first intermission. After New Jersey took the first three shots, the Flyers outshot the Devils 13-5 the remainder of the first.

Langkow made it 1-1 at 10:48 on a rush into the New Jersey zone. Goalie Martin Brodeur came out to the bottom of the left circle as Langkow ripped a shot past him.

The lead grew to 3-1 on goals by Tocchet and Fedotenko 50 seconds apart. Tocchet took a pass from behind the net and scored his fourth of the season at 18:07. Fedotenko scored his fourth, finishing a passing exchange with Mark Recchi.

Gagne made it 4-1 at 5:24 of the second, taking a pass from Tocchet right after Gagne came off the bench.

New Jersey closed to two goals, with the teams skating 4-on-4. Elias took a pass from Jason Arnott, who stripped Flyers defenseman Eric Desjardins of the puck in front of his own net.

Mogilny`s second of the night and 11th this season came with 2:43 left in the second.

Philadelphia center Kent Manderville played his 100th consecutive regular-season game without a goal, but nearly scored twice.

Manderville fired a shot that got through Brodeur`s legs, but struck the far right post. Later, he put in a rebound but the whistle had sounded for a New Jersey penalty.

Game notes
New Jersey D Scott Stevens, who gave former Flyers C Eric Lindros his last concussion, was booed throughout the night. ... Mogilny`s first goal, in New Jersey`s 31st game, was the 100th scored by the Devils this season. It is the fastest they have reached the mark since the 1993-94 season (29 games). ... Flyers C Keith Primeau had back spasms in the second period and did not return. ... Manderville, who also failed to score in last season`s playoffs, hasn`t had a goal since Oct. 2, 1999. He assisted on McAllister`s goal. ... The teams combined for 73 penalty minutes, including a game misconduct to Devils D Colin White for instigating a fight. ... New Jersey held a 33-26 shots advantage.

Courtesy Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. Copyright 2000.

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Author: AP