SUNRISE, Fla – After dominating the game for two periods and taking a 2-0 lead, the New Jersey Devils let the Florida Panthers back into the game and had to struggle into a second overtime period before taking a 3-2 win, catapulting them into the second round.
The Devils seemingly had the game in hand when they ran into some penalty trouble in the third period. Florida netted two power play goals to tie the game at two, but couldn’t find that illusive third goal despite taking 45 shots in the game.
New Jersey’s rookie and Calder Trophy finalist Adam Henrique scored the game-winner at 3:47 of the second overtime, wristing a rebound past Florida goaltender Jose Theodore, who stopped 33 of 36 shots. Henrique also scored the opening goal of the game just 1:29 into the first period.
The Devils took a 2-0 lead at 9:15 of the second period when Stephen Gionta backhanded a rebound over Theodore’s right shoulder.
Florida pressured the Devils for most of the third period, tying the game with a pair of power play goals by Stephen Weiss and Marcel Goc. But it wasn’t enough to keep the Devils from moving on to face the red hot Philadelphia Flyers.
New Jersey joined Philadelphia and Washington in knocking out higher seeds in the east. Only the New York Rangers, the number one seed, survived, just barely.
The first game between the Devils and the Flyers will be played in Philly on Sunday. The Flyers have had a week to rest their bodies. The last time these teams met in the playoffs in 2010, the Flyers took the series four game to one in easy fashion, but after watching the first round, it appears that nothing is coming easy for anyone.
Contact the writer at: mitch.cooper@prohockeynews.com
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