Uniondale, N.Y. — Kevin Constantine's reputation as a strict disciplinarian jolted the New Jersey Devils to play scared and win.
Constantine, behind an NHL bench for the first time since Dec. 9, 1999, did little more than furrow his brow, chew his gum and cross his arms in his coaching debut with New Jersey, yet the Devils showed renewed zip in a 3-1 victory over the New York Islanders on Tuesday night.
"Maybe his reputation made us more worried about what's going to happen to us, or what's going to happen to the team if we don't do what he says," said Bobby Holik, who scored New Jersey's other goal. "But it's still just the first game. We have a long way to go to be where we want to be."
The Devils responded well to Constantine, hired to replace nice-guy Larry Robinson, who was fired Monday.
Constantine, 43, said he would simply observe the Devils for a few games before instituting his own coaching schemes, but he did stress defense before the game.
"Guys were blocking shots who had never blocked a shot before in their life," captain Scott Stevens said.
Constantine also asked the team to play hard, but that was it.
"If you give too much out on the first night, you can paralyze people," Constantine explained.
New Jersey moved into a tie with Montreal for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
Kip Miller scored for the Islanders, who retain the sixth spot, one point ahead of the idle New York Rangers.
"When you make a coaching change sometimes the players want to impress their new coach," Isles defenseman Adrian Aucoin said. "Sometimes the players are fighting for their jobs ... It's natural for them to give a little extra."
Jason Arnott centers the "A" line, which had been the subject of many dramas under Robinson, who had broken up the line, to varying degrees of success.
But Constantine kept it together and gave it nearly 18:30 of ice time.
"It was a lot different than before," Arnott said, "but the more we're out there, the better for us. We want as much ice time as possible."
Arnott put the Devils up 1-0 at 13:56 of the first. Linemates Petr Sykora and Patrik Elias earned assists.
Aucoin stopped the initial rush by deflecting Sykora's shot, but the rebound found Arnott, who calmly poked it past Islanders goalie Chris Osgood.
A pleased Lou Lamoriello, the New Jersey GM, was sitting in the press box and had gushed, "I like what I see!" just before the goal.
Elias made it 2-0 just over a minute later with a wrister from the right circle. Sykora and goalie Martin Brodeur assisted on the play.
The Islanders answered 13 seconds later with Miller's goal at 15:22.
Flyers 3, Penguins 2, OT
Philadelphia Keith Primeau scored a tying goal with 17.5 seconds remaining in the third period, and Marty Murray won it early in overtime, leading Philadelphia over Pittsburgh.
Murray picked off a clearing attempt by Pittsburgh's Billy Tibbetts and scored past Jean-Sebastien Aubin 1:47 into overtime, snapping the Penguins' six-game winning streak.
With goaltender Brian Boucher pulled for an extra skater, Primeau forced overtime when he accepted a pass from John LeClair in the slot and scored past Aubin. LeClair also scored for the Flyers.
Maple Leafs 4, Sharks 3
Toronto Bryan McCabe had two goals and an assist to lead Toronto over San Jose.
Jonas Hoglund added a goal and an assist for the Maple Leafs, who have won just three of their last 11 games.
Todd Harvey scored two goals for the Sharks, who are winless in four games of a five-game road trip (0-3-1).
Toronto's Alexander Mogilny was knocked out of the game in the first period with a back injury after being checked into the boards by Brad Stuart. Mogilny, yelling in pain, remained on the ice for five minutes before being helped off. He did not return.
McCabe's one-timer at 13:39 of the second period gave Toronto a 3-1 lead. His wrist shot on the power play made it 4-1 at 1:44 of the third. McCabe, who has scored 11 goals, had his third two-goal game of the season.
Hurricanes 2, Sabres 2
Raleigh, N.C. Bates Battaglia scored his 18th goal with 9:48 left as Carolina rallied twice to tie Buffalo. The Hurricanes haven't won in seven games, but have five ties during that stretch to remain in first place in the Southeast Division, 10 points ahead of Washington.
Carolina had to kill a slashing penalty against Erik Cole in the final 1:50 of regulation to preserve the tie.
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