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Devils drop Flyers in shootout

Nov 28, 2010 - 1:02 AM Newark, NJ (Sports Network) - Travis Zajac scored the game-winner in the fourth round of the shootout as New Jersey clipped Philadelphia, 2-1, at Prudential Center.

With each team having scored once, Mike Richards began the fourth and final round by clanging his wrister off the post. Zajac followed up with the clincher, a shot which hit the right post, slipped under the crossbar and exited the net quickly.

Adam Mair tallied in regulation for the Devils, who recovered nicely from dropping a 2-0 decision on Friday to the New York Islanders.

Johan Hedberg posted his best performance of the season, stopping 40-of-41 shots.

"I think it's a team thing," Hedberg said. "We started something good a few games ago. It's 'put the goaltender in a different position.' We're way more sound. That's the way we've got to play."

Danny Briere netted a third-period power-play goal for the Flyers, who have lost back-to-back shootouts on consecutive days.

Brian Boucher was the hard-luck loser with 24 saves.

New Jersey controlled play early on, but wasted a four-minute power play that came less than two minutes in. The home team finally hit the socreboard with 8:11 to play in the first when Mair hit the left pipe from the right wing at a sharp angle.

In a scoreless middle 20 minutes, Hedberg made 14 saves and Boucher needed to make just six stops. Hedberg's best came roughly midway through the period, when he anticipated a stick move from Ville Leino, and dove in front of his crease to cover the puck.

Boucher was forced to make a glove stop on Ilya Kovalchuk three minutes into the third period, then Hedberg dove out once more to smother an open Jeff Carter chance roughly 30 seconds later.

Philadelphia got a power play prior to the eight-minute mark and Briere cashed in when he managed to slip a shot past Hedberg at the left post at 8:38.

Kovalchuk fanned on his chance in close during a 2-on-1 rush with two minutes remaining in overtime, then failed to control the puck on two ensuing rushes.

"We definitely got better as the game went on," Flyers coach Peter Laviolette said. "We fought for a point in the third period. Hedberg was pretty good, but our guy was too."

Game Notes

The Flyers took five of six meetings with the Devils a season ago, including two of three in Newark...Philadelphia's power play, which sputtered at an 0- for-16 and 1-for-32 clip coming in, finished 1-of-2...Devils forward Patrik Elias was a late scratch for personal reasons...Hedberg's previous top performance in terms of saves came when he stopped 38 in a 5-4 shootout loss to Buffalo on November 10.