Panthers Victorious Over Devils

FLORIDA

The Florida Panthers returned home to host the New Jersey Devils. The Devils are currently in one of the most heated races for a playoff spot and were looking for a win to get some breathing space....A win could vault them all alone in 5th spot in the conference......This was not too be as the Panthers handed the Devils their third loss and kept them in a 5 way tie for 5th spot.

The game was closer then the final score would indicate and the Devils actually slightly out shot Florida 34 - 29 but when your playing the hottest team in the league at the moment you need to do more then just out shoot them.

The Panthers got two goals in the first period. The first was at 4:42 when Mike Cirillo notched his 6th of the season. The Devils only got one penalty in the period and the Panthers made them pay. Florida's power play has finally been clicking of late and was again tonight as they went 2-2. Owen Nolan got his 5th power play goal of the year at 8:43 while the Devils Karel Pilar was in the box for a cross-checking double minor and Florida went into the dressing room up 2-0 after 20 minutes.

Sergei Krivokrasov ( who was traded to Edmonton after the game) made it 3-0 at 6:24 of the second period. Defenseman Mike Rathje gave the Panthers a 4-0 lead at 7:40 when he blasted a shot from the 45 feet out to beat a screened Brian Boucher. The Devils finally got on the board late in the second and cut the lead to 4-1 at 18:15 when Boyd Devereaux notched his 14th of the year.

The Devils cut the lead in half just :10 seconds into the third when Robyn Regehr scored his 3rd of the season. The Devils played a strong game and never let up but Roberto Loungo had one of his better performances at home and continually robbed the Devils of any chance to get back into the gave after Regehrs goal. Valeri Bure extended his goal scoring streak to 3 games when he scored his 24th of the season at 14:46 and the Panthers went on to a not so easy 5-2 victory over the struggling Devils.

Florida has the next couple days off to rest before they host the Tampa Bay Lightning and try to continue their mid season success.