Devils 4, Flyers 2 (Final)
The Devils celebrate after Arron Asham made it 3-1 in the second period.


newjerseydevils.com (Dec. 16) – Make it 10 straight home wins for the Devils over the "Broad Street Bullies."

John Madden scored a power-play goal and a shorthanded tally, and Martin Brodeur stopped a Daniel Briere penalty shot, as the Devils posted a 4-2 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers at Prudential Center on Sunday night.

Arron Asham potted the winner with his first goal in 21 games, and Jamie Langenbrunner added an empty netter to close out the Devils' weekend homestand with an important win against a division rival.

The Devils topped the Flyers for the third consecutive time this season, and increased their Atlantic-Division lead to four points. The club now heads to western Canada for a three-game road trip beginning Tuesday night in Vancouver.

To say that the Devils had fared well this season against Flyers starter Martin Biron would understate the facts: New Jersey had drubbed him in back-to-back meetings, chasing him from the net both times.

Back on Nov. 17, the Devils scored four goals against Biron in 40 minutes of what became the first of nine straight wins.

But Biron, who was in goal for the Flyers' 6-5 shootout loss to Carolina on Saturday night, was rested Sunday in favor of backup Antero Niittymaki.

The Devils kept Niittymaki busy just the same, with 39 shots en route to a season-high 40. Their previous high of 39 also came at the Flyers' expense (Nov. 8), and New Jersey has registered 38 shots or more in three of its four meetings with Philadelphia this season.

After Mike Richards put the Flyers ahead with a power-play goal 40 seconds into the second period, Madden answered back with the first of three Devils goals in the middle frame.

Madden's ninth, a power-play marker at 2:49, came off Karel Rachunek's rebound and ended the Devils' 1-for-16 slump on the man advantage.

Later, with the score even at 1-1, New Jersey was in the process of killing off a high-sticking double-minor to Patrik Elias when Vitaly Vishnevksi hooked Briere down to the ice.

Briere was awarded a penalty shot on the play, forcing Brodeur to produce his biggest save of the night. The reigning Vezina Trophy winner denied Briere's forehand attempt and preserved the tie at 9:32.

Brodeur, who responded to his last penalty shot with a save on Atlanta's Marian Hossa on Dec. 15, 2005, recorded 29 stops for his 16th win of the season.

Forty seconds later, Madden struck again.

With Elias still in the box, Madden and Langenbrunner connected on a two-on-one rush against Randy Jones to give the Devils their first lead of the contest.

Asham's fourth of the year from Zach Parise and Travis Zajac staked the Devils to a two-goal edge with six minutes left in the second.

Briere's 15th at 6:44 of the third period brought the Flyers within one before Langenbrunner sealed it with 4.4 seconds left in regulation.

New Jersey improved to 9-5-0 at home and 5-2-1 in December, and remains unbeaten when leading after two periods (13-0-0).

Gallery

NJD NOTES
New Jersey had a goal waved off with the score 3-1 at 17:08 of the second period because of a delayed hooking call on Dainius Zubrus... The Devils are 10-0-0 at home against the Flyers since 2004... Parise's assist on Asham's goal extended his point streak to three games (1g-2a)... Paul Martin returned after missing Saturday's contest against Phoenix... Mike Rupp was added to the lineup for the first time since Dec. 9, and tangled with Riley Cote two minutes into the contest... David Clarkson met up early in the third with Flyers' captain Jason Smith... Andy Greene and Johnny Oduya were healthy scratches.