BC-HKN–Devils-Flyers, Bjt,0533

Flyers 3, Devils 1

By ROB MAADDI

AP Sports Writer

PHILADELPHIA (AP) – The Philadelphia Flyers ended years of frustration against the New Jersey Devils, knocking the defending Stanley Cup champions out of the playoffs.

Danny Markov scored on a long shot with 5:23 left, and the Flyers closed out their first-round series against the Devils with a 3-1 victory in Game 5 on Saturday.

Markov’s shot from just inside the blue line sailed past Martin Brodeur, who hardly resembled a reigning Vezina Trophy winner in the series.

Alexei Zhamnov also scored for Philadelphia, which advances to the second round for the second straight year. Sami Kapanen added an empty-net goal in the final seconds.

Scott Niedermayer scored the only goal for New Jersey, which won three championships the previous nine years.

Robert Esche, starting his first playoff series, had 31 saves in another solid effort, outplaying Brodeur. Esche allowed nine Devils goals in the series on 155 shots.

New Jersey had been Philadelphia’s nemesis for years, beating the Flyers in the conference finals in 1995, and 2000 when the Devils rallied from a 3-1 series deficit. Earlier this season, Flyers coach Ken Hitchcock said his team had a psychological disadvantage against the Devils.

But after starting the season series 0-2-1, Philadelphia won the final three regular-season games against the Devils, and four of five in the playoffs.

Zhamnov gave the Flyers a 1-0 lead with 6:22 left in the first, scoring into an open net after a crisp pass from Tony Amonte.

Zhamnov, acquired from Chicago two months ago, had three goals and four assists in the series. A 12-year NHL veteran, Zhamnov had two goals in just three trips to the playoffs with Winnipeg and the Blackhawks.

Niedermayer tied it at 1 with 6:24 left in the second. He backhanded a shot past Esche during a flurry by the Devils. Niedermayer’s goal snapped a scoreless drought of 106 minutes, 26 seconds for New Jersey.

Zhamnov sped past Niedermayer early in the third and slipped a shot past Brodeur, who turned around and stopped the puck before it went in.

But Brodeur couldn’t handle Markov’s shot minutes later, allowing a rare soft goal. He finished with 37 saves.

Esche made a nice save on a wrist shot by Patrik Elias late in the third, and made a few stops in the final minute.

The Devils missed perennial All-Star defenseman Scott Stevens, who sat out the series with post-concussion syndrome.

New Jersey scored a goal that was negated by a penalty during its first power play. Paul Martin slapped a shot past Esche seconds after Jeff Friesen hooked Keith Primeau in the corner.

Notes: The Flyers led 1-0 after the first period of each game. … After closing out the regular season 1-for-37 on the power play, the Flyers were 4-for-12 with the extra man against the Devils. … Devils C Viktor Kozlov was benched for the third time in the series. … A crowd of 19,778 turned out for the third consecutive sellout in Philadelphia. … Fans booed when it was announced that tickets for Game 7 were on sale.

AP-ES-04-17-04 1746EDT