April 18, 2012, Florida Panthers-New Jersey Devils Game 3 of Eastern Conference Quarterfinal series game story for Metro Newspaper in NYC
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BRUCE BENNETT/GETTY IMAGES
Jason Garrison celebrates his first-period goal on Martian Brodeur.
The Devils made their living during the regular season with the
NHL’s best penalty kill, so it was cruel irony that unit was directly
responsible for the Devils’ demise Tuesday night.
The Devils’ penalty killers surrendered three goals on three power plays
in their 4-3 loss to the Panthers at the Prudential Center. The Devils
trail the best-of-seven series, 2-1. Game 4 is Thursday night at the
Rock.
“All in all, I don’t think we played a bad game,” Devil Zach Parise
said. He termed the penalty kill units as “fine” despite Florida having
scored six goals in 10 power play opportunities in the first three
games.
“They scored on some point shots. It’s not as if they are picking our
penalty kill apart,” Parise said. “We have to learn to stay out of the
penalty box. It’s the only way they are generating offense, on their
power play. That’s how they are scoring their goals.”
Brian Campbell’s wrister with 6:34 remaining in the second period proved
to be the game-winner. Former Islander Sean Bergenheim, Jason Garrison
and Mike Weaver also scored for Florida.
Devils coach Peter DeBoer pulled Brodeur for Johan Hedberg following the
Weaver goal just 2:18 into second period. Brodeur surrendered three
goals on 12 shots. The last time Brodeur had been replaced in a playoff
game was May 6, 2006, against the Hurricanes. His replacement in that
game happened to be the man who earned the win last night, Scott
Clemmensen.
Brodeur and DeBoer, independent of each other, said the coach did not
explain his rationale to sit the future Hall of Famer. Brodeur noted he
“did not expect” to be pulled. Both said Brodeur will start Thursday
night.
Hedberg turned away 13-of-14 Florida shots. His lone blemish was surrendering Campbell’s game-winner.
Almost as shocking as the failure of the penalty kill units was that the
Devils, the franchise that revolutionized the how-to-play-with-a-lead
approach to hockey, blew a 3-0 lead.
Goals off the sticks of Zach Parise (:33 seconds in), Stephen Gionta
(3:27) and Patrik Elias (6:16) prompted Panthers coach Kevin Dineen to
replace starter Jose Theodore with Clemmensen early in the first period.
Theodore yielded the three goals on just six shots.
“Three-goal lead in your own rink and you lose the game. That’s unacceptable,” Parise said.
“I don’t really have an explanation [for the loss],” DeBoer said. “We’ve
got to learn, as a group, how to play in that situation.”
Clemmensen stopped all 17 shots he faced, although an apparent Marek
Zidlicky’s goal at 18:36 of the second period was disallowed when
referees Tim Peel and Steve Kozari determined the right wing Steve
Bernier had committed incidental contact with Florida’s backup
netminder. Had it stood, Zidlicky would have drawn the Devils even at
4-4.
DeBoer called the decision “marginal.”
Displeased with the ruling and the three penalties levied against the
Devils, the announced 17,625 in attendance offered an earsplitting,
negative review of the work performed by Peel and Kozari for the
remainder of the match.
The most tepid of the NHL’s eight first round series began to simmer
last night. Parise was involved in conversations with Florida players
all night. Bernier and Scottie Upshall traded gloved punches during a
first-period scrum as Ryan Carter and Erik Gudbranson exchanged cross
words while having a hold on the other’s sweater. Bergenheim had to be
separated from David Clarkson following a third-period stoppage in play.
Follow NHL beat writer Denis Gorman on Twitter @DenisGorman.
Follow NHL beat writer Denis Gorman on Twitter @DenisGorman.
http://www.metro.us/newyork/sports/article/1140650--devils-lose-to-panthers-fall-behind-2-1
posted by Denis P. Gorman at 10:05 AM
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