Ponikarovsky goal gives Devils win in OT

Alexei Ponikarovsky scored on his own rebound with 2:39 left in overtime as the Devils defeated the Philadelphia Flyers, 4-3, last night at the Prudential Center to take a 2-1 lead in this Eastern Conference semifinal series.

Patrik Elias, Ilya Kovalchuk and Zach Parise also scored for the Devils, who killed off two penalties in overtime before Ponikarovsky came through with his first goal of the postseason on a backhander that sneaked past Ilya Bryzgalov.

Martin Brodeur made 25 saves for New Jersey, which hosts Game 4 on Sunday.

Kovalchuk, who missed Game 2 with a lower body injury, had two assists in his return, including one on the game-winner. Danny Briere, Matt Carle and Brayden Schenn tallied for the Flyers. Bryzgalov had 27 saves.

Schenn nearly won the game eight minutes into overtime with a deflection in front and then the Devils' penalty kill did an outstanding job after a boarding call against Dainius Zubrus with 11:37 left in the overtime and a delay-of-game penalty against Bryce Salvador.

The Devils seemed on the verge of a 3-2 win in the third when Parise rammed a puck into the net at 7:29 after Elias won a loose puck behind the net and found the Devils' captain alone at the right post.

Kovalchuk came within inches of making it a two-goal lead minutes later when he had a shot hit off the crossbar.

Kovalchuk, the Devils' leading scorer in the regular season, missed Game 2 with a lower body injury. However, he had his legs in the opening period and it paid off.

With Braydon Coburn off for tripping, Elias tied the score with a shot from the right circle that went off Bryzgalov's glove. Kovalchuk snared the second assist on the play, sending a pass from the left point to defenseman Marek Zidlicky, who slid it to Elias.

Will banned Preds return?

Nashville coach Barry Trotz said he was undecided Thursday whether he should reinstate forwards Alexander Radulov and Andrei Kostitsyn after one-game suspensions. They were suspended apparently for curfew violations. The Predators won Game 3 without them and Game 4 versus Phoenix is Friday in Nashville. -- AP