Devils 5 - 1 Panthers
Final
  for this game

Devils continue early road success by whipping Panthers

Oct 12, 2014 - 5:13 AM Sunrise, FL (SportsNetwork.com) - Eric Gelinas began a four-goal first-period barrage, and New Jersey ended up with a 5-1 victory over Florida on Saturday night.

Martin Havlat, Mike Cammalleri and Damon Severson added tallies in the opening 20 minutes for the Devils, who were coming off a 6-4 decision in Philadelphia on Thursday.

Ryane Clowe also lit the lamp and Cory Schneider stopped 28-of-29 shots.

"I think we had a great first period," Havlat said. "The second half of the game was a little bit weird (with) a lot of (penalty kill) time and not much flow in the game."

Derek MacKenzie supplied the lone offense for the Panthers, who began their season two days prior with a 3-2 overtime loss at Tampa Bay.

Roberto Luongo surrendered five goals on 14 shots in less than 23 minutes of action to take the loss. Al Montoya finished up making 10 saves.

"The first few were a couple of bad bounces there," Luongo said. "Tough start but no excuses. I have to make a couple of saves to keep the team in the game and I didn't do that."

Gelinas opened the scoring after just 2:37 at even strength with a floater through a screen from the left point, then Havlat tipped in a Gelinas offering from the right point for a power-play marker at 8:46.

Marek Zidlicky's rip was tipped past Luongo by Cammalleri on another Jersey advantage to make it 3-0 one minute after Jonathan Huberdeau sat for goaltender interference. The period ended with the Devils up four thanks to Severson's first NHL goal at 19:32.

Luongo was finally lifted after Clowe's one-timer in the slot off a dish by Michael Ryder rippled the net less than three minutes into the second.

MacKenzie's man-advantage score with 3 1/2 minutes left before intermission put the Panthers on the board, but despite unleashing 13 third-period shots, Schneider proved to be impenetrable.

Game Notes

New Jersey continues its season-opening four-game road trip at Tampa Bay on Tuesday, and Florida hosts Ottawa on Monday ... Panthers rookie defenseman and No. 1 overall draft pick Aaron Ekblad was a minus-2 in 22:48 of ice time.






Related News