Panthers 2 - 4 Devils
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Dec 5, 2015 - 9:47 PM Though the NHL's oldest active player has been showing his age lately, the Florida Panthers have kept on rolling behind another of their veterans.

With Roberto Luongo expected back in net, the surging Panthers aim for a franchise-record sixth consecutive road win in Sunday night's matchup with a New Jersey Devils team that continues to struggle at home.

Strong performances from Luongo and fellow goaltender Al Montoya have been the constants during a five-game win streak in which Florida (13-9-4) has generated only 10 goals. The Panthers have surrendered just six, however, and earned their fourth one-goal win over the stretch with Friday's 2-1 shootout decision at Columbus.

Florida has a chance to sweep this five-game trip and can record its first six-game overall win streak since March 2-16, 2008. The Panthers have won five straight road games for the second time in club history.

"The confidence is building," forward Jaromir Jagr told the NHL's official website. "When you win some games, you believe in yourself more. Sometimes it's not pretty, but it's effective."

Montoya made 22 saves against Columbus after Luongo yielded one goal each in the three previous victories, giving him a 1.22 goals-against average over his last four outings.

"We've done a good job I think as far as our systems the last few games," Luongo said after Thursday's 2-1 win at Nashville. "Guys have been working hard and blocking shots and stuff like that. That's what it takes to win hockey games. You've got to pay the price for your team, and we're doing that right now."

The Panthers have been succeeding in spite of Jagr's recent slump. The 43-year-old, who'll play at the Prudential Center for the first time since being traded by the Devils to Florida on Feb. 26, has gone four straight without a point and has no goals over his last six.

Jagr remains one goal shy of matching Marcel Dionne (731) for fourth place on the NHL's career list.

Luongo is just 10-15-0 against New Jersey (13-10-3) and produced a 5.17 GAA in two losses last season, but he'll be facing a Devils team that's had problems scoring on home ice.

New Jersey's 2.00 goals per game at home ranks 29th in the NHL, and they've netted just seven over a 0-2-2 stretch there. The Devils did receive power-play scores from Kyle Palmieri and Mike Cammalleri in the third period of Friday's 4-3 overtime loss to Philadelphia, earning a point for the fourth time in five games.

''Philly played real well and we were not at our best, but we found a way to stay with it,'' coach John Hynes said. ''That's a real good sign for our team.''

Cammalleri has three goals and two assists over the last two games and Palmieri three goals over the past four. Center Travis Zajac, fourth on the team with six goals, will miss a second straight game, however, with an upper-body injury sustained in Thursday's 5-1 win at Carolina.

Cory Schneider, Luongo's one-time teammate in Vancouver, looks to bounce back after permitting four goals on 25 shots against Philadelphia. He compiled a 1.83 GAA over his previous 13 starts, allowing two or less in 12.

Jagr had a goal and an assist as Florida snapped a three-game series skid with a 3-2 home win in last season's finale on April 11.






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