NEWARK, NJ – The New Jersey Devils outshot the Florida Panthers Tuesday night but were hardly in a position to win game six on their own ice. The Panthers launched a total of 16 shots on Martin Brodeur yet were tied with the Devils at the end of regulation.
For most of the game, the Devils appeared less than interested in playing the game. In contrast, the Panthers were playing a much more enthusiastic style of play and playing for the tie and looking for a mistake on the Devils’ part.
That philosophy played a role in the Panthers storming back from a 2-0 deficit.
Steve Bernier gave New Jersey the lead in the first when he tracked down an errant shot the Florida net in the far corner. He turned and in motion flicked the puck on net. Panthers netminder Scott Clemmensen misplayed the puck it skittered through his pads at 16:37 of the first.
In the second, Ilya Kovalchuk made it 2-0 on the power play. Kovalchuk had been singled out for not showing up in this series. His goal seemed to deflate the Panthers and their energy drained.
But the Panthers did not win the Southeast Division by giving up entirely. Kris Versteeg got Florida on the board less than three minutes after the Kovalchuk goal to get his club back in the game.
With just over seven minutes left in the middle frame, Sean Bergenheim put the puck home past a surprised Brodeur who was out of position. The puck had not made it to the back boards and Bergenheim corralled it and poked it in the open net before Brodeur could establish position in the crease.
A 5-on-3 power play was squandered by the Devils early in the third. In fact, New Jersey was nonchalant in their pressure on the Florida zone.
Overtime was needed when neither team found the back of the net in the third period.
With just over five minutes gone in the extra session Kovalchuk skated the puck into the Panthers’ zone and directed a pass to a streaking Travis Zajac who settled the skittish puck and wristed it high over Clemmensen’s shoulder into the far corner of the net for the game winner.
The teams now head to Sunrise, Florida for game seven Thursday night.
Contact Mitch.Cooper@prohockeynews.com
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