Ot Goal Puts Philly Ahead, 2-0

Kevin Haller scored 25 seconds into overtime as the Philadelphia Flyers beat the New York Rangers 4-3 in Philadelphia Monday night to take a 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven Eastern Conference semifinal.

For the second day in a row, the Flyers won in overtime on a goal by a defenseman they obtained in a trade with Montreal. Former Canadiens defenseman Eric Desjardins scored the winner in Philadelphia’s 5-4 win Sunday.

Haller and Mikael Renberg came down on a 2-on-1 against Rangers defenseman Brian Leetch, who scored all three New York goals.

Renberg passed the puck to Haller, whose 15-foot wrist shot from the slot beat New York goalie Mike Richter high to the glove side.

The series moves to New York for Games 3 and 4 Wednesday and Friday.

The Rangers sent the game into overtime with Leetch’s third goal at 11:19 of the third period.

Flyers 4, Rangers 3

N.Y. Rangers 2 0 1 0 - 3

Philadelphia 0 2 1 1 - 4

First Period-1, New York, Leetch 4 (Messier, Zubov), 7:35 (pp). 2, New York, Leetch 5 (Kovalev, Zubov), 12:46 (pp).

Second Period-3, Philadelphia, Lindros 2 (Renberg, LeClair), 6:15. 4, Philadelphia, Yushkevich 1 (Brind’Amour, Fedyk), 16:36.

Third Period-5, Philadelphia, Renberg 1 (Dykhuis, Lindros), :25. 6, New York, Leetch 6 (Graves, Messier), 11:19.

Overtime-7, Philadelphia, Haller 3 (Renberg, LeClair), :25.

Shots on goal-New York 6-13-8-0-27. Philadelphia 5-7-13-1-26.Power-play opp.-New York 2 of 5; Philadelphia 0 of 6.Goalies-New York, Richter 2-4 (26 shots-22 saves). Philadelphia, Hextall 6-1 (27-24).A-17,380 (17,380).

Devils 4, Penguins 2

Pittsburgh

Scott Stevens’ backhander from the slot off his own rebound with 29 seconds left prevented another third-period collapse and New Jersey beat Pittsburgh, tying their Eastern Conference semifinal series at a game apiece.

Claude Lemieux scored twice, including an empty-netter with a second left, as the Devils got back on their game with tight checking and mid-ice traps to neutralize all of Pittsburgh’s big scorers except Jaromir Jagr.

The Devils, 0-2-2 previously against the Penguins this season, again outplayed Pittsburgh at both ends of the ice and overcame Jagr’s two goals to seize back home-ice advantage. Games 3 and 4 will be Wednesday and Friday in the Meadowlands.

New Jersey led 2-1 on Lemieux’s goal at 7:49 of the third before Jagr tied it at 18:45, flicking a shot off defenseman Tommy Albelin’s skate.

New Jersey 1 0 3 - 4 Pittsburgh 1 0 1 - 2

First period-1, New Jersey, MacLean 1 (K.Stevens, Richer), 6:53 (pp). 2, Pittsburgh, Jagr 9 (Francis, Murphy), 16:34.

Second period-None.

Third period-3, New Jersey, Lemieux 4 (Richer, Driver) 7:49. 4, Pittsburgh, Jagr 10 (Murphy, K.Stevens), 18:45. 5, New Jersey, S.Stevens 1, 1931. 6, New Jersey, Lemieux 5 (Chorske), 19:59 (en).

Shots on goal-New Jersey 13-12-13-38. Pittsburgh 7-8-13-28.Power-play opp.-New Jersey 1 of 2; Pittsburgh 0 of 4.Goalies-New Jersey, Brodeur 5-2 (28 shots-26 saves). Pittsburgh, Wregget 5-3 (37-34).A-16,817 (17,181).