Flyers dominate first period, Devils still win, 5-3

NEWARK —

If there's one thing I've learned about playing the Flyers, it's that you almost want to fall behind against them. Because when that team gets a lead, they find every which way to lose it.

And that's precisely what happened at the Prudential Center tonight as the Devils beat the Flyers, 5-3, in front of another sellout of 17,625, which may have contained the fewest number of Flyers fans for a game in North Jersey ... ever.

Devils tie it at 3, after falling behind 3-1.

When the score was 3-1 Philadelphia, I was a bit worried for a few moments, because were it not for Marty, the score could have easily been 6-1. The Flyers missed numerous chances in the first period.

And yet, after 1, I still firmly believed they'd win. Just ask Marc Eisenberg.

A few observations from the game tonight

• Zac Rinaldo is an absolute waste of roster space. How this punk has an NHL contract still blows my mind.

The Devils take the lead back in the third.

• Wayne Simmonds is a great hockey player, the Claude Lemieux kind of guy you love to hate when he's an opponent, but the kind of kid you'd love on your own team.

• Devils games are slowly become a destination. And I never thought that would happen. Ever.

• Didn't see it, but Rich Chere, of the Star-Ledger, noted that Staff Sgt. Clinton Romesha, who recently received a Medal of Honor from President Obama, was at the game and got a standing ovation from the crowd.

• Watched part of the game tonight via the Flyers broadcast. Keith Jones is very solid in the booth. Can't say the same for Jim Jackson. Still blows my mind the Flyers employ Bill Clemente, and he's not a regular on their in-game broadcast team (few are better than Clemente is).

• Perhaps it's because I've resolved no one will ever be as good as Doc Emrick, but Steve Cangialosi is finally growing on me in the MSG booth. He used a great Doc-ism as the game began: "Sure glad you've joined us tonight."

• Alexei Ponikarovsky is the 23rd player ever to get a second stint with the Devils. Petr Sykora was the last, but there have been some dandies over the years who came back. Before Sykora, there was Jason Arnott, Brian Rolston, Brendan Shanahan and Bobby Holik. Completely forgot Stephane Richer came back in 2001. But perhaps none had more of an impact than Claude Lemieux, who came back in 1999-00, and was part of the Devils second Cup (after spending a few years in Denver, including the 1996-96 season, where he won his then third Cup with the Avalanche).—

— Kevin Canessa Jr.

The puck heading into an empty net. 5-3 Devils is your final.