Devils Trap Panthers

    The Florida Panthers played their third straight game in the New York metropolitan area as they lost to the New Jersey Devils 6-2 at Prudential Center on Saturday. This concluded the three-game series between both teams that met in the first round of last year's NHL playoffs.
    Florida(13-25-6) scored on their first power-play attempt at 6:11 of the first period. Marcel Goc was able to snap a shot from the top right circle by Martin Brodeur for his seventh goal of this season.
    The Panthers increased their lead to 2-0 less than a minute later at 7:05. Mike Weaver sent a cross-ice pass from the right point to the left wing. Brian Campbell skated into the left circle a fired a wrist shot for his eighth goal.
    New Jersey(17-17-10) began to crawl back in this game as they converted on their first power play at 14: 22. Patrick Elias received a lead pass at the Panthers blue line from Peter Harrold in his own defensive zone. He split between the Floirda defensemen and ripped a wrist shot from the slot past Jacob Markstrom.
    Elias scored his second goal of the game during the second period at 2:09. Travis Zajac stopped a Panthers clearing attempt at the right point. David Clarkson passed the puck from the right circle to the low slot where Elias put in the wrist shot.
    The Devils took their first lead at 10:45 on a duplicate play that happened eight minutes earlier. This time Alexei Ponikarovsky prevented a clear-out pass at the right point. Zajac took the puck to the bottom right circle and found Clarkson in the low slot for a snap shot.
    New Jersey scored an additional goal at 14:11 as several former Panthers burned them on a play. Steve Bernier passed the puck off the end wall to himself and Ryan Carter scored with a wrist shot on the rebound at the top of the crease.
    The Panthers gave up a fifth consecutive goal and the fourth tally of the frame with 2:16 left in the second period. Carter connected a pass from the right point to a driving Gionta and he finished the play with a wrist shot from the top right circle. The Cats were outshot 17-4 in the second period.
    Quinton Howden was hooked from behind by Marek Zidlicky 39 seconds into the third period and he was rewarded a penalty shot. Howden was trying to get his first NHL goal on the penalty shot, but he failed as Brodeur made a right-skate save.
    At 10:28 of the third period, Dainius Zubrus redirected the puck on a shot from long range by Adam Larsson for a Devils 6-2 lead.
    Brodeur, the NHL all-time leader in wins and shutouts by a goalie, made 11 saves and moved up to 12-8-7. Markstrom stopped 27 of 33 shots and dropped down to 6-12-1 this season. The Panthers, who were outshot 33-13 in the contest, were 1-for-2 on the power play while the Devils went 1-for-3 with the man advantage. The Cats finish the four-game road swing in Boston against the Bruins on Sunday.