EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J., April 14 (UPI) -- Robert Esche made 35 saves for his first career playoff shutout Wednesday night as Philadelphia downed New Jersey, 3-0.
The Flyers grabbed a three games to one lead in their Eastern Conference quarterfinals series.
After getting some unlucky bounces and allowing four goals on 23 shots in Game 3, Esche played his best game of the series to put the Flyers within a win of reaching the conference semifinals for the second straight season.
Esche stopped 13 shots in the first period, 12 in the second and 10 in the third, when he made a handful of big saves to help the Flyers preserve the lead.
Alex Zhamnov gave the Flyers a 2-0 edge at 4:45 of the third before captain Keith Primeau sealed things with 3:58 remaining.
Defenseman Kim Johnsson scored early in the first period for the Flyers, who also had a three games to one lead over the Devils in the 2000 conference finals. But New Jersey won the final three games en route to their second Stanley Cup title.
