Don't count out the defending champion New Jersey Devils in the Stanley Cup playoffs.
Nor anyone else, for that matter.
The Devils got two goals from Patrik Elias and three assists by Scott Gomez in beating the Philadelphia Flyers 4-2 on Monday night. It was New Jersey's first win in the opening-round matchup, putting the series at 2-1 -- just like all seven other series.
New Jersey looked much better in Game 3, its first home game, than in the two losses in Philadelphia. The power play woke up after going 0-for-7, with three goals in five extra-man opportunities.
Elias, easily the Devils' most dangerous scorer, was the sparkplug, tying the game early in the second period, then putting New Jersey ahead for good later in the period.
"He has had a great year and that whole line has helped this team a lot, carried this team at times," Devils captain Scott Niedermayer said of Elias, Gomez and Brian Gionta, who had a third-period goal. "Today, they really stepped up. We needed some goals and needed to get the power play going, and they did it for us."
Martin Brodeur made 23 saves and rookie defenseman Paul Martin also connected for New Jersey. Jeremy Roenick and Tony Amonte scored for the Flyers, who twice blew one-goal leads.
"I think we're still real confident here," Roenick said. "We're up 2-1 and they got three goals on the power play, which was disappointing. Our penalty killing has been really good, and if we play five-on-five, we have a really good chance."
In other Game 3s on Monday night, Toronto took a 2-1 edge against Ottawa with a 2-0 road victory; Tampa Bay went up on the New York Islanders 2-1 with a 3-0 win; Dallas crept within 2-1 by beating Colorado 4-3 in overtime; and St. Louis got its first victory against San Jose, 4-1 behind Mike Sillinger's hat trick.
The Blues and Sharks play against Tuesday night in St. Louis, and the other three series resume. Boston, leading 2-1, is at Montreal; Detroit, up 2-1, is at Nashville; and Vancouver, ahead 2-1, is at Calgary.
Maple Leafs 2, Senators 0
At Ottawa, Ed Belfour made 35 saves for his second straight shutout. Belfour has held Ottawa scoreless for 138:21. He made 31 saves in Saturday's 2-0 win.
Belfour, who turns 39 on April 21, got his 84th career playoff win to keep pace with Brodeur for the lead among active goalies. It was his 13th career playoff shutout, moving him past Dominik Hasek into second place among active goalies behind Brodeur's 20.
Joe Nieuwendyk scored early in the second period and Mats Sundin added a goal on a two-on-one rush in the third.
Lightning 3, Islanders 0
At Uniondale, New York, Nikolai Khabibulin made 28 saves, while Brad Richards and Martin St. Louis scored early. St. Louis added an empty-net goal with 10 seconds remaining.
All three games have ended 3-0.
Khabibulin got his third career playoff shutout. He was spectacular in the final minute of the second period, turning aside a wave of dangerous shots, including two by Mariusz Czerkawski and a slapper by Kenny Jonsson within seconds of each other.
"With Khabi, the way he's playing, it gives us a cushion," said Richards, who had his first career playoff goal and two assists.
Stars 4, Avalanche 3, OT
At Dallas, Steve Ott stole the puck in center ice and broke in to score 2:11 into overtime. The Stars tied the game when Philippe Boucher sent a long shot past Colorado goaltender David Aebischer with 4:27 left in regulation.
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