First Round Series Summary & Game 1 @ Flyers

The Devils have not exactly had a piece of cake in this year's Stanley Cup Playoffs. A challenging, long series against Florida brought them sneaking into the second round. It took more than 21 periods (7 games) of hockey, when games 6 and 7 combined for 3 extra overtime periods. Adam Henrique scored through the five-hole of Jose Theodore at the BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise, Florida, extending the Devils' season. The Calder Trophy finalist has been gold in his first year.


During these playoff games, surprisingly, the fourth-liners; Stephen Gionta, Ryan Carter, and Steve Bernier have been the most productive line for Jersey. Defenseman, Peter Harrold, has been a very consistently strong player for the team ever since he was called up. Now, due to an Ilya Kovalchuk injury, he has been transferred to forward on the fourth line. Steve Bernier was moved up to the third line.


The first game of the series against the Flyers was fun to watch... only for about half of regulation time. The Devils' familiarly strong 2012 playoff game start took place yet again in the game against Philly. They took a first period 1-0 lead just 3:16 into the game. Zach Parise had struck once again! The rest of the game was, for the most part, controlled by Philadelphia. The two rivals finished the second period tied at 2, but that was a gasp of fresh-air for the Devils. The team rocking the red and black was backed up into their own end for a good part of the third period, where each team scored one goal. The Devils trailed 3-2 during the period until Petr Sykora netted his breakaway chance through the "humangous big" five-hole of Mr. Universe himself, Ilya Bryzgalov. The game was headed to overtime! Soon into a Philly-dominated overtime period, Flyers' forward Danny Briere had scored. But wait, with the crowd erupting with cheers, all of a sudden the mood slowed down. The goal was under review. With replays showing Briere clearly kicking the puck in the net, the Philly crowd continued to see the play with their hearts, and not their eyes. When the referee announced the outcome, which was no-goal on the play, the crowd was erupting with everything but cheers. However, pretty soon after, Danny Briere took a slapper from the center of the point. This time with his stick and not his foot. One more five-hole goal was put in with that shot through a crowd of players, and that was the overtime goal that counted. Briere's goal was legal this time, and the Flyers were given a 1-0 series lead.