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TORONTO (Ticker) -- The Toronto Maple Leafs used a two-day layoff and home ice to their full advantage.

Alexander Mogilny and Alexei Ponikarovsky scored 90 seconds apart in the second period, leading the rejuvenated Maple Leafs to a 4-1 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers in Game Three of the Eastern Conference semifinals.

With two days off between games, the Maple Leafs avoided being pushed to the brink of elimination by the Flyers, who hold a two games to one lead in the series.

"I think it helped some of our guys dealing with injuries, especially this time of the year," Mogilny said.

Back in the friendly confines of the Air Canada Centre, Toronto prevented Philadelphia from scoring first for the first time this postseason when Mogilny took a feed from Mats Sundin at center ice and beat goaltender Robert Esche on a breakaway at 5:12 of the second period.

"Those two days off helped us recharge and the home crowd helped us out," Toronto left wing Chad Kilger added.

Ponikarovsky made it 2-0 with his first career postseason goal at 6:42, redirecting defenseman Bryan McCabe 's point shot past Esche from the low slot.

Kilger and Darcy Tucker also tallied for the Maple Leafs , who look to even the series Friday at home.

Tony Amonte scored for Philadelphia, which registered just 19 shots.

"I just think our level of intensity dropped and Toronto's went up," Flyers coach Ken Hitchcock said. "That was the difference."

After being outworked and outmuscled for much of the first two games of the series, the Leafs turned the tables in this one, drawing off the energy of the sellout crowd. "We knew it was a huge game for us and that we needed to take to the body on those guys," Mogilny said.

"We knew at home they would be energized by their crowd and being down 2-0 in the series, we expected them to be physical, and that's exactly what they were," Flyers captain Keith Primeau said. "They have a few guys who get a lot more brave at home."

But neither team could gain the advantage on the scoreboard in the first as Ponikarovsky hit the right goalpost midway through the period and Primeau's redirection of Donald Brashear 's pass glanced off the crossbar.

Toronto jumped ahead in the second when Sundin intercepted a pass in his own zone and sprang Mogilny, who beat Esche to the stick side for his second goal of the series.

"It's nice to get a 15-feet advantage," Mogilny said. "Any goal is important. It's not like we've been scoring in bunches, but it was nice to get a couple of quick goals."

"He made a good play to go to his forehand and it went off the inside of the post and in," Esche said. "It was a good move."

With former Leaf Doug Gilmour looking on from the crowd, Ponikarovsky doubled the lead, tipping McCabe's shot inside the right post.

After a turnover by Philadelphia, tough guy Tie Domi kept the puck in the Flyers' zone at the blue line and fired a shot down low. From below the right faceoff circle, Kilger redirected it in at 15:11, giving Toronto a 3-0 cushion.

"I saw (Kilger) streaking toward the net," Domi said. "I just shot it in his directoin and he was able to get his stick on it and put it in."

Amonte cashed in on a power-play opportunity with 62 seconds to go in the period, putting a shot from the low slot over Ed Belfour 's right shoulder. But Philadelphia was unable to get anything going in the third and took a handful of penalties out of frustration, leading to Tucker's 5-on-3 tally and sealing the victory.