VOORHEES, N.J. -- Tuesday nights 4-1 Game 2 loss to the New Jersey Devils didnt provide Flyers fans with much to be optimistic about.
The Flyers went a stretch of 18 minutes without so much as a shot on net. They floundered during opportunities on the power play. They simply couldnt generate any offensive pressure on Devils goalie Martin Brodeur after the first period came to a close.
But now that the series heads to Newark, N.J. for Game 3, there may be something to look forward to: The Flyers were among the NHLs best teams on the road this season, and theyre 3-1 on the road so far in the playoffs. That could benefit them, as they attempt to get back on track with the series now 1-1.
The whole season, we found a way to be a good road team, Claude Giroux said. We kind of go out there, weve got four lines rolling, our D was playing well and Bryz was shutting the door. Its been pretty much the same story all year, and hopefully we keep the same story.
As for just why the team has seemed to thrive away from the Wells Fargo Center, its hard to say. Coach Peter Laviolette has attempted to answer the question time after time this year, but still cant explain it.
I dont have an answer for it, he said. If you ask teams where theyd rather ply, theyd probably say in their building. I dont really have an answer as to -- I dont know what the percentage is of road games that are won. I cant explain it.
Rookie impact
That impact would belong to Devils defenseman Adam Larsson, who made his rookie playoff debut and scored the tying goal in the third period.
NHL
I was a little bit rusty in the first five to 10 minutes, but the longer the game went, I felt pretty good in there, said Larsson, who had 13:15 ice time.
His goal -- a snap-wrister from the right circle to the high glove side of Flyers goalie Ilya Bryzgalov, ignited the Devils four-goal, third period outburst.
I think you can see that we get everybody going after that, Larsson said. We score two, three, four there, so it was very important I think. But we played really good today and we were wearing them down pretty good there.
Larsson drew some praise from Zach Parise.
He was great; he hasn't played in a long time, Parise said. I thought he had a great game. It was a huge goal for us. That's great to see because it can be tough. He hasn't played in awhile, but he didn't look like he missed a step. That was a great shot.
Loose pucks
Eric Wellwood had the most shots for the Flyers in Game 2, with fourJames van Riemsdyk and Danny Briere were both minus-3New Jersey had lost six straight playoff games in Philly. Until Tuesday night, their last playoff victory was Game 7 of the 2000 Eastern Conference finals. That was the night Scott Stevens ended Eric Lindros Flyer career with a shoulder check to the head.
E-mail Tim Panaccio at tpanotch@comcast.net or Sarah Baicker at sbaicker@comcastsportsnet.com