Panthers Come Back On Devils

The Florida Panthers came back from a three-goal deficit in game three and shocked the New Jersey Devils 4-3 on Tuesday night at the Prudential Center in Newark. The Panthers now lead this best-of-seven series 2-1. The Cats came out with a horrible start as New Jersey scored their first three goals of the game just 6:16 in. The Panthers fell behind on the first shift of the game and they were unable to clear the puck out of their zone. Iyla Kovalchuk took a slap shot from the top right circle that was tipped by Travis Zajac. Jose Theodore made the initial save, but Zack Parise carried the puck through low slot and scored at 0:33. The Devils continued to roll as Stephen Gionta redirected the puck from the top of the crease at 3:27 after a shot from the right point by Marek Zidlicky. Kris Versteeg took an interference penalty at 5:16 and New Jersey scored on their first power play to increase the margin to 3-1 at 6:16. David Clarkson took a backhand shot from the slot that was saved by Theodore. Parise passed from the crease area to Patrik Elias in the low right circle and he put a wrist shot into the roof of the cage. Panthers coach Kevin Dineen pulled Theodore after that goal and Scott Clemmensen replaced him. Elias was called for unsportsmanlike conduct at 15:16. Florida cut the lead to 3-1 on their first power play. Scottie Upshall fired a shot from the red line that Martin Brodeur made a blocker save. Sean Bergenheim got the rebound in the low left circle and flicked a wrist shot over the right shoulder of Brodeur at 16:11. Bryce Salvador took a roughing penalty at with over two minutes left. The Panthers scored on their second power play of the game with eight seconds left in the period. Jason Garrison blasted a slap shot from the blue line that traveled through traffic and in between the legs of Brodeur. Florida outshot New Jersey 9-1 to end the first period and were down 3-2. The Panthers tied the game at 2:18 of the second period on a turnover by the Devils in their own zone. Elias had a cross-ice pass intercepted by Mike Weaver on the right point. He took a slap shot that went in. Brodeur was pulled by Peter Deboer following the goal and Johan Hedberg entered the game. Florida picked up their fourth consecutive goal as they scored on their straight third power play at 6:34. Mikael Samuelsson fed Brian Campbell in the right circle for the goal. The Devils had a tying goal disallowed with 1:24 left when Steve Bernier bumped into Clemmensen in the blue paint on a right point shot by Zidlicky. Neither team scored in third period. The Devils pulled Hedberg with 1:25 left in regulation, but were unable to tie the game. It was the Panthers first road playoff win since June 1, 1996 when they upset the Pittsburgh Penguins in game seven of the Eastern Conference Finals at the Pittsburgh Civic Arena. Florida won the conference title and flew to Denver after the game for the Stanley Cup Finals. Clemmensen recorded his first playoff win in his NHL career and now is 5-0 all-time against New Jersey. For the first time in his playoff career, Brodeur and the Devils could not hold a three-goal lead. Both teams will meet in game four on Thursday night.