With the clever maneuvers of a three-card monte dealer, Flyers coach Craig Ramsay helped his club overcome the absence of first-line center Daymond Langkow in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals last night.

By moving Mark Recchi from right wing to center, John LeClair from left wing to right, and adding Simon Gagne to the line on the left side, Ramsay looked like a mastermind as the trio made a devastating impact in the Flyers’ 4-2 victory at the Meadowlands.

The Flyers grabbed a 2-1 series lead, with Game 4 tomorrow night back at the Meadowlands.

Whether Ramsay will risk breaking up the line depends on if Langkow can return from the concussion he suffered Tuesday in the third period of Game 2 when he was checked at mid-ice by Scott Stevens. The 23-year old Langkow, who scored the Game 2 winner, also required 15 stitches over his right eye due to a Stevens elbow.

Langkow remained in the Philadelphia area last night to recuperate.

“He’ll be possible for Saturday, in my mind,” Ramsay said. “I’m sure he’d love to play.”

Despite the fact that he only made rare appearances at center this season, Recchi proved he was more than an able stand-in. The 32-year-old veteran gave the Flyers a 1-0 lead when he backhanded a LeClair pass past Martin Brodeur just 2:57 into the first period.

It was Recchi’s fifth goal of the playoffs.

“He’s certainly a wonderful playmaker,” Ramsay said.

Recchi estimated that he hasplayed center in five to 10 games this season, but until last night he had never started a playoff game at the position in his 11 year NHL career. He did, however, occasionally play center with the Penguins in the early ’90s.

“It’s not something I want to do for 82 games,” Recchi said.

Nevertheless, he looked more than comfortable in the role. With the Flyers trying to hold on to their 3-2 lead late in the third, Recchi fed a pass to Gagne, who made a spectacular move by defenseman Brian Rafalski for his fourth goal of the playoffs with 1:49 to play.

With Recchi’s performance, it seems Langkow can afford to rest until he is completely ready.

“Lanker’s been tremendous in the playoffs,” Recchi said. “But playoffs are all about getting through things. That’s where depth comes involved.”

LeClair received 36 stitches on his nose and cheek and three stitches over his right eye after being accidentally struck by the blade of Brodeur’s stick. The incident happened when the goaltender was clearing a puck from behind the goal in the third period.

“Marty fired the puck and the stick came up and got me,” LeClair said.

When asked if he’ll play in Game 4, LeClair responded, “No question.” It is possible that he will wear an eye-shield in the game, however.

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Right wing Rick Tocchet said the headline “Flyers Are Liars” in yesterday’s Post got the team riled up. He added that the players were also miffed by the recent stories in which Larry Robinson said the Flyers used dirty tactics.

“That got us upset,” said Tocchet, who had a goal and an assist last night. “Maybe that helped us. I was surprised by Larry. He’s a Hall of Famer. You take it personally.”

The Flyers won their first game at the Meadowlands since March 25, 1997, stopping a 0-7-1 skid. Over the past decade, they were 4-22-2.