Brodeur records 500th victory as Devils rout Flyers

Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - Martin Brodeur finally recorded his 500th career victory as the veteran netminder turned aside 26 shots in New Jersey's 6-2 win over Philadelphia at Wachovia Center.

Brodeur, who had the chance to set the milestone last weekend, came into Saturday's game with four losses in his last five starts. Against the Flyers though, the Montreal, Quebec native would not be denied as he became just the second goaltender in NHL history to reach the plateau, joining Patrick Roy, who compiled 551 regular season wins to go along with 151 postseason victories.

Zach Parise scored a goal and had two assists for the Devils, who avoided losing their third straight contest. Dainius Zubrus, Patrik Elias and Brian Gionta all tallied a goal and a helper apiece in the victory.

Mike Richards and Scottie Upshall each recorded a goal and an assist for the Flyers, who have dropped two straight and three of their last five.

Martin Biron started between the pipes for Philadelphia and gave up four goals on 22 shots. He was replaced at the start of the third by backup Antero Niittymaki, who gave up two goals on the only two shots he faced.

The visitors got on the board at 10:04 of the opening period to take control. Shortly after a power play chance expired, Andrew Greene ripped a slap shot from the left point that Biron stopped. The rebound, however, kicked out to an uncovered Zubrus in front and he quickly put the puck in the back of the net.

Less than three minutes later, Karel Rachunek gave New Jersey a 2-0 lead after cranking a slap shot from just inside the blueline into the top left corner of the net.

Elias' goal 3:33 into the second stanza gave the Devils a three-goal cushion. Parise's shot from the slot was stopped in front but Elias was able to gather the puck outside the crease and slam it past Biron.

About midway through the middle session, the sluggish Flyers had a great chance to get back into the game with a four-minute power play but couldn't generate much offense.

Philadelphia finally got on the board with 4:06 left in the second after Richards gathered a loose puck from a scrum inside the crease and lifted the disc over a sprawled out Brodeur.

The Devils, though, regained their three-goal lead with 1:42 left in the second after Jay Pandolfo unleashed a weak wrister from the left circle that slipped past Biron on the near side.

Just 27 seconds into the third, Philadelphia pulled within two goals after Upshall took a feed from Richards in the slot and one-timed it past Brodeur.

New Jersey then responded about two minutes after Upshall's tally with two goals by Gionta and Parise that were separated by just 32 seconds to give them a four-goal advantage that held up.

Game Notes

New Jersey has taken 12 of the last 14 encounters with Philadelphia and posted wins in five of its last six stops at the Wachovia Center...The Flyers wrapped up a four-game homestand at 2-1-1...Richards has a six-game point streak...Veteran forward Sami Kapanen returned to the lineup for Philadelphia after missing the last four games with a right knee sprain...The Flyers did not score in seven chances on the power play while the Devils went 0-for-4.