Devils Take Advantage of Timely Chances in 4-2 Win Over Panthers

Corey Schneider looks to make a stop against the Florida Panthers on Sunday night. Photo Credit: Paul Bereswill/Getty Images

EAST HANOVER, NJ – Most games when one team outplays, outshoots and out possesses the other team they come out on top. This was not the case in this contest.

The New Jersey Devils (15-8-5) had only 18 shots all evening against the Florida Panthers (13-10-4), but connected when it counted. They had three two goal leads through 60 minutes and four different scorers in a 4-2 victory on Sunday night at the Prudential Center.

Lee Stempniak got the Devils on the board just 26 seconds into the first when he fired a backhander past Panther’s goaltender Roberto Luongo off a nice centering feed from Mike Cammalleri. It was the quickest New Jersey has gotten on the board thus far this season.

A few minutes later, Kyle Palmieri took a stretch pass from Damon Severson, skated down the ice and beat Luongo on the short side to give his squad an early 2-0 edge.

The unsung hero for the Devils was without a doubt, Corey Schneider. He made 34 saves throughout, including a big stop on a penalty shot.

Adam Larsson was called for tripping when Jonathon Huberdeau had a breakaway chance on goal. Huberdeau made a couple of deke moves, but Schneider stuck with him and denied a quality shot on net to preserve a 3-2 lead with just over two minutes left in the second period.

Schneider was pretty fortunate midway through the second as he was caught out of position after some nice, crisp passing by the Panthers. Luckily for New Jersey, Aleksander Barkov fanned on the touch pass and the puck rolled harmlessly into Schneider’s glove.

New Jersey had only seven shots through the last two periods. They were doubled in the shot department 36-18, but never relinquished the lead at any point.

The prettiest goal for the Devils came from the stick of Adam Henrique. Larsson fed him a nice pass in the slot that was taken around the back of the net and stuffed in past a sprawled out Luongo to give New Jersey their second two goal edge of the night.

Mike Cammalleri capped things off for the Devils when he connected from the left slot off a quick pass from Severson.

The Devils continue to grind out points as they are now 4-4-2 in their last ten. They moved up to fourth place in the Metropolitan Division and will next travel to Toronto to take on the Maple Leafs (9-13-5), this Tuesday at 7:30 p.m.