Devils Tie Flyers

John Madden took a great backhand pass from Randy McKay and scored with 9:17 left in regulation, giving the New Jersey Devils a 1-1 tie with the injury-depleted Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday night.

Daymond Langkow scored for the Flyers in the game that really picked up in the third period and overtime. As the final buzzer sounded, Devils captain Scott Stevens and Flyers veteran Mark Recchi exchanged swings.

Devils goalie Martin Brodeur had the best save of the overtime, stopping Simon Gagne one-on-one with 2:57 left.

Roman Cechmanek, who only faced 10 New Jersey shots through two periods, stopped three very good ones in the third period after Madden tied it.

The tie extended the Devils` unbeaten streak to seven games (5-0-2) and left Philadelphia winless in three (0-2-1), its first slump since Bill Barber took over as coach.

The Flyers are unbeaten in three games (1-0-2) against the Devils -- the team that rallied from a 3-1 deficit to beat them in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference finals en route to the Stanley Cup.

McKay had the play of the night in setting up Madden`s 14th goal of the season. After Madden was stopped by Cechmanek in front, McKay went behind the net and got the rebound while being hounded the entire time by Luke Richardson. While on his knees and facing away from the goal, McKay backhanded a pass in front that Madden ripped past Cechmanek.

Playing without John LeClair (back), Keith Primeau (shoulder) and Rick Tocchet (hand), the Flyers spent most of the night dumping the puck into the Devils end and clogging up center ice.

The strategy led to the Flyers only goal early in the second period when rookie Justin Williams intercepted a backhand pass by defenseman Scott Niedermayer at the blue line. He quickly found Langkow all alone and the center beat Brodeur with a back-hander in close for a 1-0 lead at 4:37.

The Flyers had a couple of great chances to pad the lead in the third period. P.J. Stock, who was called up from the minors before the game, set up Langkow on a 2-on-1 chance only to see Brodeur make the save.

Todd Fedoruk had another chance on a semi-breakaway but his shot in close slithered through the crease.

The Flyers also failed to convert on a 24-second two-man advantage that Stock helped set up with his annoying play.

Madden had his short-handed breakaway with about 15 minutes left in the period but Cechmanek stacked his pads as Madden cut across the crease and made the save.

Notes:
Langkow has played in 177 straight games since being acquired by the Flyers. ... The game was Stock`s first with the Flyers after being acquired from Montreal on Dec. 7. ... New Jersey came into the game with the NHL`s top ranked power play (23.9 percent) but the unit went 0-for-2. The Flyers were 0-for-4. ... The Devils are 6-1-12 in overtime games with the Flyers.

(Copyright 2001 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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Author: AP