Brink scores go-ahead goal in 3rd period, Flyers defeat Devils

NEWARK, N.J. -- Bobby Brink scored a go-ahead goal on the power play in the third period, and the Philadelphia Flyers defeated the New Jersey Devils 3-1 at Prudential Center on Saturday.

Brink gave Philadelphia a 2-1 lead at 12:44 on a wrist shot from the slot just inside the right post. It was his second goal in three games.

"I think there's ups and downs every year, and I think we've had times where we played really well and we've had times where we struggled and today we played well," Brink said. "Hopefully we'll do it again next game (against the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday)."

Samuel Ersson made 12 saves, and Tyson Foerster and Noah Cates each had two assists for the Flyers (21-20-6), who blocked a season-high 33 shots. Philadelphia is 4-0-1 in its past five games.

"We do such a good job of blocking shots, getting sticks on pucks," Ersson said. "I cannot complain that we're good at defending. That's the way this team is and that's what makes us so good ... when we're good, guys are sacrificing their body, just putting everything on the line, and that makes my job so much easier."

Jake Allen made 15 saves in his first start in seven games for the Devils (26-16-6), who have lost three in a row (0-1-2) and host the Ottawa Senators on Sunday.

"You’ve got to give them credit -- they're positionally sound, blocked a lot of shots, but it's just indicative of our team right now," New Jersey coach Sheldon Keefe said. "We're struggling to string together two passes. We're fighting the puck in a lot of areas, and it just hasn't seemed to settle for us."

Dougie Hamilton gave the Devils a 1-0 lead at 2:17 of the first period on a snap shot from the right point through traffic. It was Hamilton's first goal since Dec. 2 (20 games).

"Teams take our rush play away and we have to find a way to create some more offensive zone time and create more," New Jersey captain Nico Hischier said. "The solution? It's simple: We need more high shots on net, getting guys to the net. Kind of how we scored the [Hamilton] goal."

Matvei Michkov tied it 1-1 on a breakaway at 1:56 of the second period after skating into a lead pass from Sean Couturier in the neutral zone and scoring on a snap shot over Allen's glove.

Couturier stole a pass attempt by Devils defenseman Luke Hughes along the Flyers blue line before springing Michkov, who leads NHL rookies with 14 goals.

"I'm kind of reading his eyes and, at that point, me and [Joel Farabee] had to switch since he was down low and I had the D-man," Couturier said. "I was kind of in between and just ready to step up on him. [Luke Hughes] fanned on his pass so once I got it, I knew [Michkov] was gone, so I laid it there like an alley-oop and let him do his thing."

Ersson denied a wrist shot from the slot by Dawson Mercer on a New Jersey power play at 17:19 to keep the game tied.

"[Ersson] has steadied himself," Philadelphia coach John Tortorella said. "He didn't get a lot of action tonight and we ate shots all over the place, but he looks confident, and I hope it continues."

The Devils appeared to take a 2-1 lead at 3:44 of the third when Jesper Bratt scored on a one-timer from the right face-off circle, but the Flyers successfully challenged that Bratt preceded the puck into the offensive zone and was offside prior to the goal.

"We need better execution," Keefe said. "Go back and watch how many times the puck's on our stick and then it goes to the other team. Our inability to connect simple plays and passes, it's crazy. We don't look like a very skilled hockey team out there ... it's not even close."

Travis Konecny scored an empty-net goal with two seconds left for the 3-1 final.

NOTES: Ersson extended his win streak to four games to match his NHL career high; he also won four straight last season and in 2022-23. ... The Flyers lead the League with 865 blocked shots this season; defensemen Nick Seeler and Rasmus Ristolainen tied for the team lead Saturday with five each. … Foerster has 12 points (six goals, six assists) in his past 16 games. … Hischier, the No. 1 pick by the Devils at the 2017 NHL Draft, played his 500th NHL game; he is the sixth Switzerland-born player in League history to reach the milestone. … New Jersey defenseman Paul Cotter had six hits in 14:08 of ice time. … Devils forward Stefan Noesen returned after missing two games with an illness. He had one shot on goal in 17:43.