Flyers Stage Rally, Take Edge Off Hasek-Less Sabres

NHL playoffs

Just as the Buffalo Sabres were ready to forget about Dominik Hasek’s suspension, Shjon Podein reminded them with a shot between Steve Shields’ pads.

Podein scored with 48 seconds left in the third period as the Philadelphia Flyers overcame a two-goal deficit to beat the Sabres 5-3 Saturday night at Buffalo, N.Y., in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals.

Podein scored the game-winner after Trent Klatt poked the puck loose behind the Buffalo net. Podein grabbed control and stuffed it past Shields as the Sabres goalie moved across the crease.

“(Klatt) did all the work behind the net,” Podein said. “He held off two guys at the same time. I just kind of jammed it home.”

Rod Brind’Amour tied the game midway through the third period and completed the scoring on an empty-netter with 6 seconds left.

Shields, who replaced an injured Hasek in the Ottawa series and helped the Sabres outlast the upstart Senators, is playing while Hasek serves a three-game suspension for attacking a reporter last week. Shields made 42 saves and kept the Sabres in the game before Podein put them away.

“I felt like I was playing well,” Shields said. “I saw the puck well. We just got caught off (guard) by our mistakes.”

Game 2 is Monday night in Buffalo.

The first game had everything - scoring, heaving hitting, goalies fighting, a goal with 1 second left in the second period and, at the end, two exhausted teams.

The contest was stopped for about 15 minutes with 2:55 left in the second following a scuffle in front of the Philadelphia net. It ended with everyone on the ice matched up while Flyers goalie Garth Snow and Shields traded words in the Flyers’ zone and punches near the Sabres’ bench.

“It was definitely entertaining, and everybody enjoyed it,” said Flyers forward Dale Hawerchuk, who assisted on Brind’Amour’s first goal. “It had to be a heck of a game to watch. It was certainly fun to play.”

Michal Grosek, Brad May and Donald Audette had Buffalo’s goals. Dan Kordic and Mikael Renberg also scored for the Flyers. Snow had 29 saves.

Renberg’s goal came with a second left in the middle period and kept the Flyers in the game after the Sabres had taken control.

Flyers 5, Sabres 3

Philadelphia 0 2 3 - 5 Buffalo 0 3 0 - 3

First period-None.

Second period-1, Buffalo, Grosek 1 (Plante, Boughner), 5:18. 2, Buffalo, May 1 (Ray, Wilson), 6:00. 3, Philadelphia, Kordic 1 (Zubrus, Lacroix), 11:23. 4, Buffalo, Audette 3 (Burridge, Smehlik), 17:26 (pp). 5, Philadelphia, Renberg 2 (Coffey), 19:59 (pp).

Third period-6, Philadelphia, Brind’Amour 4 (Hawerchuk, Falloon), 10:00. 7, Philadelphia, Podein 2 (Klatt, Otto), 19:12. 8, Philadelphia, Brind’Amour 5, 19:54 (en).

Shots on goal-Philadelphia 12-20-15-47. Buffalo 6-12-14-32.Power-play opp.-Philadelphia 1 of 4; Buffalo 1 of 4.Goalies-Philadelphia, Snow 5-1 (32 shots29 saves). Buffalo, Shields 3-3 (46-42).A-18,595 (18,595).