Panthers Slay Devils

     The Florida Panthers snapped a three-game losing streak with a 5-3 victory over the New Jersey Devils on Friday night at BB&T Center. Roberto Luongo of the Cats and Cory Schneider of the Devils, who both played goalie for the Vancouver Canucks last year, faced each other for the third time this season with Luongo victorious each time.
     Midway through the first period, Florida(25-35-7) was able to get up 1-0 at 9:59. Jon Merrill gave the puck away to Jimmy Hayes in the left circle. He pivoted to the middle and took a snap shot which was saved by Corey Schneider. Brian Campbell swooped into the crease area and put in the rebound for his seventh goal of the season.
     The game was evened by New Jersey(29-25-13) on their first power play with 1:15 left in the first as Jaromir Jagr collected his team-high 22nd goal of the season and 703rd in his NHL career. Travis Zajac took a slapshot in the left circle that was saved buy Lunogo. Damien Brunner got the rebound in the right circle and fired a shot toward the net that was redirected by Jagr.
     The Devils took the lead early in the second period at 2:02. Patrick Elias had the puck in the right circle and sent it to Bryce Salvador at the left point. He put a wrist shot at the net from the top left circle that went in.
     They increased their margin to 3-1 at 13:13 of the second. Brunner sent a backhand pass from the left point ahead to a charging Elias and he snapped a shot from the left circle with a screen in front by Dainius Zubrus for his 15th goal.
     Quinton Howden cut the deficit down to 3-2 a little more than one minute later at 14:30 for his second goal in two games. Scott Gomez had the puck in the left circle and put the Panthers first shot on goal in 17 minutes. He got his own rebound and fed Howden in the low slot for the goal. Those would the Cats only shots on goal in the second period as they were outshot 14-2.
     In the third period, the Panthers tied the game 3-3 at 4:24 on a giveaway. Mark Fayne had a cross-ice pass from his own right circle intercepted by Brad Boyes in the high slot. He skated in alone on net and put it between the pads of Schneider for his team-high 18th goal this campaign.
     The Cats regained the lead 4-3 at the ten-minute mark of the third. Boyes handled the puck in the right corner and found Scottie Upshall in the low right circle. He scored his 13th goal on a wrist shot as Nick Bjugstad set up a screen in front.
    Vincent Trocheck picked up a clearing pass at center ice from Brian Campbell and rushed down the right side and wrapped it up with his first NHL goal with 32.5 left in the third. New Jersey lost a game in regulation for the first time this season when they had the lead after two periods.
     Luongo got his second victory in his second stint with the club and improved to 21-28-6 as he made 28 saves on 31 shots. Schneider moved his record down to 12-14-9 as he had 17 saves in the loss. The Devils scored on their only power play while the Cats were 0-for-3 with the man advantage.