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Gionta lifts Devils past reeling Flyers

Jan 20, 2007 - 8:58 PM EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey (Ticker) -- Brian Gionta helped the New Jersey Devils avoid an embarrassing loss heading into the All-Star break.

Gionta scored with 20 seconds left in the third period and netted the only goal in the shootout as the first-place Devils handed the last-place Philadelphia Flyers their eighth straight loss, 4-3.

Philadelphia was closing in on its first win since January 2, but Gionta got a rebound of defenseman Paul Martin's shot and beat Antero Niittymaki from the top of the crease for his 21st goal.

After a scoreless overtime, Gionta again beat Niittymaki on the Devils' first attempt in the shootout. Martin Brodeur took care of the rest, denying Simon Gagne, Peter Forsberg and Mike Richards to give New Jersey its seventh consecutive win in the series.

Philadelphia never trailed until the shootout, grabbing a 3-2 lead on Gagne's power-play tally with 6:58 to go in regulation.

Forsberg had the puck in the right faceoff circle and drew a defender before whipping a pass to the goal line. Gagne grabbed it, moved in front of the net and roofed a shot over a fallen Brodeur for his 23rd goal.

Ryan Potulny and Kyle Calder had the other tallies for the Flyers, who have not beaten New Jersey since March 21, 2006.

The Devils, who got goals from Scott Gomez and Jamie Langenbrunner, head into the break with a 13-point lead over the second-place New York Rangers in the Atlantic Division.