Devils Hold Off Panthers

    The Florida Panthers had the opportunity to win their first playoff series since the 1995-96 season. It didn't happen in game six as they were defeated by the New Jersey Devils 3-2 in overtime Tuesday night at the Prudential Center in Newark. It was the sixth time in history the Panthers played in a postseason overtime game. The first round series will go to a game seven on Thursday night in Sunrise.
    Scott Clemmensen was given his second career playoff start against his former team. Jose Theodore was scratched and did not dress due to an undisclosed injury. Jacob Markstrom was called up from their AHL affiliate San Antonio to backup in net.
    It was a tough start for Florida as they had only three shots on goal 15 minutes into the game. New Jersey got the 1-0 lead on a goal by former Panther Steve Bernier at 16:32. Peter Harrold ripped a shot from the right point that was deflected by Ryan Carter on net. Bernier took a wrist shot from the low left circle that went through the pads of Clemmensen. The Devils out shot Florida 13-6 in the first period.  
     New Jersey continued to roll at the beginning in the second period. Tomas Kopecky took a penalty for high sticking Harrold at 2:25 to give the Devils their first power play of the game. Peter Sykora dropped the puck down to Travis Zajac in the low right circle. He found Ilya Kovalchuk at the edge of the goal crease and he one-timed a shot by Clemmensen at 4:21 for a Devils 2-0 lead.
     The Panthers closed the gap on their first shot of the second period at 7:05. Stephen Weiss raced down the left side and into the left corner. He passed to the slot area where Kris Versteeg slipped the puck by Martin Brodeur. It was the third goal by Versteeg against the Devils in this series.
    Florida tied the game at 2-2 with 7:11 left in the second period. Tyson Strachan came up on the play and fired a shot from the high slot that Brodeur barely saved. Sean Bergenheim picked up the loose puck on the right side of crease with backhand. He switched to the forehand and put it into the open net. Bergenheim picked up his third goal in the playoffs.
    Early in the third period, the Panthers were able to kill off two penalties, including a five-on-three for 28 seconds. The Cats had only 13 shots on goal in regulation. Clemmensen made 36 saves in the three periods. Neither team scored in the third period which set up the first overtime in the series.
    The Devils got the decisive goal at 5:39 in overtime as Zajac blasted a slap shot from the edge of the left circle. Parise gave an outlet pass ahead from the neutral zone to Kovalchuk who crossed the Panthers line and angled a pass to Zajac.
   The Panthers had played a game six only twice in their franchise history and won both of them at home in 1996. They won against the Philadelphia Flyers in the Eastern Conference Semifinals and the Pittsburgh Penguins in the Eastern Conference Finals.