But it’s one the Flyers say they won’t waste any time savoring.

"I’ve already started thinking about the next round," Flyers captain Keith Primeau said after helping bounce the hated Devils in five games in the Eastern Conference quarterfinals. "We’re a long ways away from being where we want to be. I think the guys will enjoy it tonight and enjoy the day tomorrow. But I think the focus starts right away on the next round."

Kicking off a mini-celebration in the locker room after an unlikely game-winning goal by defenseman Danny Markov and another brilliant game by goalie Robert Esche (31 saves) had laid the Devils to rest, the Flyers were on to the conference semifinals.

Not that they’re wasting energy thinking of another opponent. They’re zoned in on an ultimate goal.

"The truth of the matter is that it’s only one series," said Esche. "Last year we won one series and went out in the next. So this is just the tip of the iceberg for where we want to go this year."

Since it was against the team that plays on the edge of a swamp so close to home, there was no denying how special this opening series salvo of success was for the Flyers.

"There’s more pressure in the newspapers if we don’t win this game," said Markov, one of three key late-season acquisitions, and a guy who played brilliantly in this series. "Because they would say it’s 2000 again if we lost the game."

That was a reference to the way the Devils stole the Flyers’ hearts four years ago, overturning a 3-1 series lead for Philadelphia and winning the conference finals in seven. Though the Flyers shrugged off thoughts of repeat renderings of the past, it was hard to deny the doubt this Devils team always seems to create.

"It was exciting to finally win the series," said Esche. "It’s not in your head, but they’re a team that is known for coming back and tying things up. It could get to Game 6 there and then a Game 7, and if you get a Game 7 anything can happen."

But there was one other nagging thought that perhaps moved the Flyers to end this series quickly in front of a delirious hometown crowd that flooded the rebuilt -- and very relieved -- Sports Complex.

Fears of facing a Game 6, Ken Hitchcock?

"Did you ever overnight it in Secaucus, New Jersey?"

OK, so he wouldn’t be the best Motel 6 spokesman or Chamber of Commerce representative. But Hitchcock isn’t a bad hockey coach, judging by the way he out-adjusted Devils coach and good friend Pat Burns in this series.

For this Game 5 finale, however, there was no such chess playing. Both teams lined ’em up as usual and just let ’em play.

So for the fifth time in the five-game series, the Flyers scored first. It came because they stuck to their plan of peppering suddenly earthbound Martin Brodeur whenever possible.

Tony Amonte did just that, and when Brodeur unwisely tried to move the gloved puck to a teammate, the charging Jeremy Roenick knocked it free and flipped it back into the slot. Amonte took it there and found Alexei Zhamnov at the corner of the crease.

Brodeur’s dive across could do nothing to stop Zhamnov from lifting the puck in at 13:38 of the first period for 1-0.

Despite being down, the Devils didn’t detract from their game plan of playing tight. It was a game of positional tag, and when Hitchcock sprung his fourth line of body taggers a tad too soon, it got the Flyers into a spot of trouble.

They couldn’t match the speed of the top Devils line that was on the ice at the time, and Scott Gomez sprung free and created havoc in the Flyers’ end. Then defenseman Scott Niedermayer slid sideways away from everyone and backhanded the puck past Esche at 13:36 of the second for 1-1.

That created an overtime atmosphere for the third period. But like the rest of the series, it hit an unlikely punchline. Markov broke into the offensive zone with the puck, and using Devils defender Colin White as a screen, surprised Brodeur with a wrist shot that rung off the post and in with 5:23 left for a 2-1 lead.

"It hit (the post) so hard, I thought it was going to bounce out the other side," said Brodeur, whose shakiness on the two goals undermined the 37 saves he made. "I was really surprised on that shot."

To no one’s surprise, the Devils turned their game up a couple of notches after that. But as they tried to get Brodeur off the ice by jamming the puck in the Flyers’ zone, Esche kept coming up big.

Finally with an extra skater to create havoc, the Devils had consecutive would-be goals targeted by Tommy Albelin (tipped on net by Patrik Elias) and by Jamie Langenbrunner, but Esche again came up huge, then shot his arms skyward when Sami Kapanen potted an empty netter with eight seconds left.

"New Jersey plays such a sound game that you’re on edge all the time," said Hitchcock. "You’re one mistake away from having it go in. New Jersey knows how to win."

But ultimately, what won this series for the Flyers was that they had a goaltender who learned fast how to win in spectacular fashion. Outplaying world-class goalie Brodeur, turning away just about everything Brodeur’s teammates threw at him.

"Esche showed me the same thing he showed us during the regular season," said Hitchcock. "That he can steal games, that he’s a tremendous athlete and that he’s very, very competitive."