PHILADELPHIA — Playing catch-up finally caught up with the Devils and their record chase.
They’d risen regularly from stumbling starts, but couldn’t manage it again when they had the chance to tie an NHL record. The Devils’ 3-2 loss to the Flyers here last night ended their eight-game overall and nine-game road winning streaks.
“You definitely hate to see it end,” Jamie Langenbrunner said. “You wish it would have ended when we were playing well, but if we were playing well, it wouldn’t have ended.”
Falling behind 0-1 for the sixth time in seven games, and 0-2 for the third time in five, the Devils failed to extend the streak they built with those victories, falling one short of the 2006 Sabres’ NHL record of 10 road victories to start a season.
“We had a good run,” said Zach Parise, whose last-second goal made the final score close. “We’ll get back to playing better in Nashville [Thursday].”
Jacques Lemaire, under the weather, said the early deficits will be a priority for repair.
“We played with confidence, we played with energy,” Lemaire said of his team during its winning streaks. “The starts were not always great, but we managed to play well after. Now we’ll have to try to get better starts.”
The Flyers didn’t need to honor Dave Schultz’s induction to the Flyer Hall of Fame with fisticuffs, except in the final second. After Parise scored, Langenbrunner tangled with several Flyers in Ray Emery’s net.
“After I started getting hit, he started swinging, too. But that’s Emery,” Langenbrunner said. “I got hit into the goalie and while I was down, I got suckered a few times. It was kind of a dirty play, from what I hear.”
For the third straight game, and sixth of seven, the Devils conceded the opening goal. From the right boards, Arron Asham gave the puck to Claude Giroux in the right circle. Giroux passed through Cory Murphy to set up Darroll Powe coming to the crease to steer home his sixth past Martin Brodeur’s long side at 7:11 of the first. It was also the third straight road game that the Devils fell behind 0-1.
New Jersey escaped further first-period punishment, but fell behind 0-2 for the second straight game, and third time in five, 44 seconds into the second. Philly was working plays from deep on the right side, and that’s where Scott Hartnell was on the power play, his backhand pass attempt going in off the stick of Devils defenseman Mike Mottau. It was only the fourth power play goal the Devils had allowed on the road this season in their 31st time shorthanded.
David Clarkson halved the Devils’ deficit at 15:42 of the second, scoring 5-on-3 from the front of the crease, set up by Parise from the right side.
James van Riemsdyk reopened Philly’s two-goal lead at 10:38 of the third, after Andy Greene made an ill-advised outlet attempt at the side of the net. It was knocked in front, where Brodeur poked it away from Bryce Salvador and into the slot for van Riemsdyk to promptly whip past Brodeur’s glove. Parise made it close too late, with Brodeur on the bench for an extra attacker.
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Inducted last night into Flyers’ Hall of Fame, Dave Schultz gave a lengthy acceptance speech and thanked former GM Keith Allen for recognizing “my talents and skills and sending me to the minor leagues.” . . . The Flyers also congratulated Lou Lamoriello on his Hall of Fame induction.