NHL

Flyers take the initiative to tie series with Leafs

PHILADELPHIA -- The Flyers dominated the Maple Leafs for the second straight game. This time, they did it on the scoreboard, too.

Simon Gagne, John LeClair and Mark Recchi each had a goal and assist, leading the Flyers to a 4-1 victory over Toronto in Game 2 of their East quarterfinals series Friday night.

Jeremy Roenick also scored for the Flyers. Alexander Mogilny had Toronto's goal. Mogilny scored three in Toronto's series-opening win.

"We played two strong games. Unfortunately, we made some mistakes in Game 1," Flyers coach Ken Hitchcock said. "They did what they had to do. They got a win here. Now we need to go there and get a win."

The Leafs beat the Flyers 5-3 in the opener despite being outplayed and outshot 31-15. Philadelphia outshot Toronto 36-17 Friday, including 31-10 after two periods.

The undermanned Leafs were without forwards Nik Antropov (foot) and Darcy Tucker (knee), both injured in Game 1. Also, center Doug Gilmour (knee) and defenseman Glen Wesley (ankle) remained sidelined.

"There was no doubt who deserved the game tonight," Leafs captain Mats Sundin said. "If it wasn't for Ed Belfour, it would have been an even worse score. We have a lot of work to do as a group."

Philadelphia controlled the game from the start, and took a 1-0 lead on a short-handed goal by Gagne with 7:51 left in the first. Roenick made it 2-0 with 2:13 left in the first, converting a crisp pass from Gagne after a turnover.

Belfour had 32 saves after stopping 28-of-31 in the opener. Roman Cechmanek, who allowed four goals on his first 13 shots in Game 1, had 16 saves.

Mogilny cut it to 2-1 early in the second, but the Flyers regained their two-goal lead 1:42 later on Recchi's goal.

LeClair made it 4-1 midway through the second on a power-play goal -- his second in his past 13 playoff games.

DEVILS 4, BRUINS 2: Jamie Langenbrunner broke a third-period tie and set up two other goals to give host New Jersey a 2-0 series lead.

Jeff Friesen, Brian Rafalski and Joe Nieuwendyk also scored, and Martin Brodeur had 24 saves as the Devils became the only team in the playoffs to win their first two games at home this season.

Glen Murray and Dan McGillis scored for Boston, which will need a big comeback to avoid a second straight first-round exit.

Langenbrunner broke a tie at 2 just 15 seconds into the third with New Jersey on a four-on-three advantage. He has had a hand in five of the Devils' six goals (three goals, two assists) against Boston.

Langenbrunner got his third goal by one-timing Scott Niedermayer's pass past Steve Shields, then he iced the game by setting up Nieuwendyk on a breakaway with 5:36 to go.

STARS 6, OILERS 1: The eighth-seeded Oilers went from thinking about pulling off an upset to acting very upset.

Scott Young scored twice in the first, and Mike Modano had a goal and two assists as top-seeded Dallas won a game that featured 38 penalties, several brawls and two ejections.

Twenty-three of the infractions came in the final period, so many that only 4:15 of the third was played at five on five -- and none of the final 11:45. In addition to the two game misconducts, there were two misconducts and a five-minute match penalty to Edmonton's Cory Cross for intent to injure.

Edmonton's hopes of taking the two opening road games got off to a strong start when Marty Reasoner scored at 6:35 of the first. Then Dallas scored six straight goals -- three on the power play -- and the Oilers lost their cool.

A shoving match between Edmonton's Brad Isbister and Dallas captain Derian Hatcher at the end of the first began the bad blood. Things really turned ugly after Ulf Dahlen scored the sixth goal on goaltender Jussi Markkanen, 36 seconds after he replaced Tommy Salo.

About two minutes later, a skirmish broke out behind the Oilers net. When it ended, there were eight sticks, more than a dozen gloves and several helmets on the ice.

Hatcher and Oilers captain Jason Smith were ejected.

FLEURY SUSPENDED: Theo Fleury of the Blackhawks was suspended for a minimum of six months for violating the terms of the league's substance abuse program.

The league said Fleury is under the supervision of doctors from both the league and the players association. He will be eligible to apply for reinstatement on Oct. 11.

FLAMES: Coach Darryl Sutter also will be the general manager after Craig Button was fired. Button hired Sutter to replace coach Greg Gilbert in December.

SHARKS: The team will give Teemu Selanne until April 21 to decide whether to exercise his $6.5-million option and return next season.

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