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Gagne's OT goal extends Devils' losing streak

Mar 7, 2007 - 6:24 AM PHILADELPHIA (Ticker) -- Simon Gagne and the Philadelphia Flyers finally found a way to beat the New Jersey Devils.

Gagne scored 1:47 into overtime to lead the Flyers to a 5-4 triumph over the Devils. It was Philadelphia's first victory over New Jersey in six meetings this season.

Making his Philadelphia debut, Martin Biron made 37 saves for the Flyers. Biron came to the Flyers from the Buffalo Sabres at the trade deadline.

"I have always liked this building," Biron said. "Whatever the reason, the energy is always great in this building. I have had some good games here so when the trade happened, I was excited because I knew it was a building that I feel comfortable in."

Scottie Upshall, Geoff Sanderson, Sami Kapanen and Mike Richards also scored for Philadelphia, which scored four goals in the second period.

Upshall also came to Philadelphia in a trade - from Nashville in the Peter Forsberg deal - and continues to shine for his new team. He has four goals in nine games with the Flyers and feels teams would do well to avoid looking at Philadelphia as a sure win.

"I think most teams are coming in and looking at where we are in the standings," Upshall said. "We are coming out hard and playing in-your-face hockey and right now that is the way we got to play. We are playing fast and I think we are skating well." Zach Parise, Patrik Elias, Sergei Brylin and Brad Lukowich scored for the Devils, who lost their third straight game.

Lukowich scored the tying goal with 5:35 left in the third period.

"It is really encouraging that we came from behind when we gave up the lead," Flyers coach John Stevens said. "We said the other day that we have to win those close games. It was just a great play in overtime to get the win."

Martin Brodeur made 39 saves for New Jersey, which had won five straight road games.

Brodeur had won eight straight meetings with Philadelphia and looked like he would have a good shot at No. 9 after the goal by Lukowich but Gagne had other ideas.

Randy Jones found Gagne in front with a pass and after Brodeur saved Gagne's first shot, Gagne corralled the rebound and slipped the puck under Brodeur's legs for the win.

"Randy (Jones) made a great play on that. Brodeur made the first save but I got the rebound," Gagne said. "That's the type of season we were having against them and we finally figured out a way to get the win at the end."

"I made the save and it went back on his stick," Brodeur said. "I had read the play. The defensemen had walked in and was looking for (Simon) Gagne. I made the save but it bounced back on his stick. It was a goal scorer's goal right there."