Panthers Get By Devils

    The Florida Panthers and the New Jersey Devils met in the same location for the first time since their epic first round seven-game series ended last season as the Cats won 3-2 in overtime at BB&T Center on Saturday night. The Panthers have won two consecutive games.
    New Jersey(15-11-9) got the first goal of the game on a turnover by the Panthers at 3:42 of the first period. Defenseman Dmitry Kulikov attempted to clear the puck from behind his net up the middle and it was stopped by center Stephen Gionta in the right circle. He quickly passed to left wing Ryan Carter in the low slot who redirected the puck to right wing Steve Bernier at the right edge of the crease and he scored on the backhand.
    Florida(11-19-6) evened up the game on their first power play at 7:05. Right wing Peter Mueller sent a cross-ice pass through the slot to left wing Jonathan Huberdeau in the right circle. He fired a shot that was redirected by center Shawn Matthias and by goalie Martin Brodeur. Huberdeau extended his assist and point streak to three games.
    Neither team was unable to score in the second period. The Devils regained the lead on the power play at 7:57 of the third period. Center Andrei Loktionov passed from the left point to the top of the zone to defenseman Henrik Tallinder. He blasted a slap shot that was deflected by Bernier in the low slot for a New Jersey 2-1 lead.
    The Cats waited until the final minute of regulation with an extra skater to tie it at 2-2 with 27 seconds remaining. Defenseman Brian Campbell took a slap shot from the top of the zone that was saved. Left wing Scottie Upshall threw a backhand shot from the left of the crease on net for another save then Matthias swept the puck in from the edge of the crease. It was his second goal of the contest, 14th goal of the season and his five goals in his last three games.
    The Panthers would take this nail-biting victory at 1:43 of overtime. Campbell made a cross-ice pass to Kulikov in the right circle and he scored on wrist shot for his first goal of the season.
    Markstrom improved to 5-7-1 as he made 24 saves while Brodeur dropped to 10-2-6 as he stopped 27 shots. The Panthers went 1-for-3 on the power play and Devils went 1-for-4. The Cats visit Tampa Bay on Tuesday before they return home next weekend.