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 But the New Jersey Devils' 6-3 victory over the Florida Panthers
on Monday night at Prudential Center was anything but normal.
"It was probably the toughest 6-3 win I've had," Devils coach Peter
DeBoer said. "It was a long night."
It had started so promisingly for the Devils, who moved to within
three points of the Columbus Blue Jackets for the second wild-card
spot in the Eastern Conference. Center Travis Zajac scored two of
his three goals in the first period and right wing Jaromir Jagr, who
had a four-point night, scored his 24th goal of the season as the
Devils jumped to a 3-0 lead.
That lead slowly dissipated over the final four minutes of the first
period and during the second period, as the Panthers chased
goaltender Martin Brodeur with three goals on nine shots and pulled
to within 4-3 after two periods. Cory Schneider replaced Brodeur
with 13:25remaining in the second period and stopped all 13 shots he
faced.
The victory goes to Brodeur, as the Devils did not allow a fourth
goal after the 41-year-old was yanked from the game by DeBoer.
"I don't think it was indicative of how Marty was playing,"
Schneider said. "I think it was more to shake the guys up and get us
out of that funk we were in during the second period. We took some
penalties there and I had to make a few saves, but that's what
you're there for, to come in and hopefully change momentum a little
bit."
"I didn't blame him on any of the first three goals," DeBoer said.
"We needed a wake-up call."
Although Brodeur did not make himself available to the media after
the game, Jagr said he handled being pulled from the game
wonderfully.
"I felt bad for Marty because we didn't play very well," Jagr said.
"We left him hanging. I understand coach wanted to make a change.
Marty is such a classy guy. He's not only the best goalie ever, but
he's such a classy guy. I don't think many goalies would take it the
right way. Marty did, and that's why he's one of a kind."
The Devils responded with two goals during the first half of the
third period, as center Jacob Josefson scored a shorthanded goal at
4:02 and Zajac completed his hat trick at 9:37 for the final margin
of victory.
The unit of Zajac, Jagr and left wing Ryane Clowe combined for five
goals and six assists in what was essentially a must-win game for
the Devils, although Clowe left the game with a potential head
injury and did not play the third period.
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"It's nice," Zajac said of his hat trick. "The wingers (Jagr and
Clowe) were really on it tonight. They were giving me the puck. I
think I had more chances in this game than I had in a while, but
sometimes they go in for you in bunches and hopefully it will
continue."
The Panthers received goals from defenseman Dmitry Kulikov, right
wing Brad Boyes and center Brandon Pirri. Goaltender Dan Ellis
didn't get much help while making 26 saves. The Panthers have been
long since eliminated from postseason contention and are simply
playing out the string.
"It's the same thing. We get down, we're not ready, we constantly
battle back,'' said Boyes. "It just doesn't change and that's the
frustrating part. Talk is cheap unless you do something about it.''
The same can be said for the Buffalo Sabres, who will host the
Devils on Tuesday night. DeBoer didn't tip his hand for his starting
goaltender, but it's safe to assume he'll go back to Schneider in
the crucial game for the Devils.
"We needed it. It was a must-win," DeBoer said. "It was two points.
It puts us within three points of Columbus here. We just have to
keep winning games."
NOTES: Panthers G Roberto Luongo (neck) was unavailable, although
coach Peter Horachek hopes he will be able to return Friday and
start the team's final five games of the regular season. ... The
Panthers were also without C Jonathan Huberdeau (upper body), C
Aleksander Barkov (knee) and RW Tomas Kopecky (concussion). ...
Devils D Adam Larsson, relegated to the AHL for most of the season,
replaced D Jon Merrill (face) in the lineup. Larsson, the No. 4 pick
in the 2011 draft, had not played in the NHL since Nov. 23. ...
Devils C Stephen Gionta (lower body) was replaced in the lineup by C
Jacob Josefson.
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