Danny Briere's goal 4:36 into overtime led the Philadelphia Flyers past the New Jersey Devils in their Eastern Conference semifinal series opener.

Philadelphia had almost won the game earlier in OT, but Briere's goal was disallowed upon review as he had kicked the puck past Devils goalie Martin Brodeur with his skate. Brier made no mistake on his next opportunity, blasting a slapshot through a screen past Brodeur for his second goal of the game.

The Devils dominated the game early-on and scored the opening goal of Game 1 at 3:16. Patrik Elias capitalized on a Flyers turnover behind the goal passing the puck to Zach Parise for the goal.

Brodeur's goaltending preserved the lead early into the second period but the Flyers' pressure on produced a Briere breakaway at 8:07. James Van Riemsdyk put Philadelphia in front 37 seconds later, 2-1.

The Devils' power play produced a goal at 13:53, as Zajac slipped a Parise pass past Bryzgalov.

With the score tied 2-2 after 2 periods, Claude Giroux put the Flyers ahead 3-2, 4 minutes and 19 seconds into the third period. Giroux played a Kimmo Timonen pass from the the left circle past Brodeur for his seventh goal in seven playoff games.

Devil's forward Petr Sykora knotted the score at 3-3 at 11:22, taking advantage of a Philadelphia turnover for a breakaway shot that beat Flyers goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov between the pads.

 

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Briere OT Goal Lifts Flyers Past Devils 4-3