Nico Daws was stellar in goal, stopping nearly everything that came his way, aided by the goalposts on a few occasions.
Daws made 36 saves, and Jesper Bratt scored for the second consecutive game as the New Jersey Devils halted Florida’s nine-game winning streak with a 4-1 victory over the Panthers on Saturday night.
Key Performances
“He made some big saves,” said Devils coach Lindy Ruff. “We were undermanned a little bit and had to rely on our goaltender for quality saves — and he delivered.”
Bratt’s goal, his 16th of the season, tied him with Tyler Toffoli for the team lead. Alexander Holtz and Erik Haula each netted their 10th goal of the season. The Devils have secured 13 out of a possible 18 points in their last nine games, boasting a 6-2-1 record.
In just his fourth appearance of the season, Daws saw the Devils score the game’s first three goals. John Marino sealed the win with an empty-netter in the final moments.
“The more games I play, the more confident I get,” said Daws, who improved to 3-0-0 on the road this season. “I’m feeling really good about my game right now.”
Florida’s Effort
Sam Reinhart scored his 31st goal for Florida, and Sergei Bobrovsky, named an All-Star earlier in the day, made 18 saves for the Panthers. According to coach Paul Maurice, the team hit the post six times, but he acknowledged Daws’ strong performance.
“Their guy had a really big night,” Maurice said.
Reinhart has 13 goals in his last 10 games and has scored in each of the last six. Matthew Tkachuk and Brandon Montour assisted on Reinhart’s power-play goal that cut the deficit to 3-1 late in the second period. Tkachuk extended his point streak to eight games, with seven goals and 10 assists during that span.
Historical Context
Florida’s nine-game winning streak was the third-longest in franchise history, trailing only a 13-game run from March 29 to April 23, 2022, and a 12-game stretch from Dec. 15, 2015, through Jan. 10, 2016. Despite the loss, the Panthers remain second in the Eastern Conference, behind the Boston Bruins.
Bobrovsky expressed pride in his All-Star selection. “It’s an honor to represent our franchise at that event,” he said. “It’s great to be among the young, superstar generation goalies. It’s special.”
Pride Night
The Panthers celebrated Pride Night, featuring various promotions, including players using pride-themed tape for warmups, the national anthem performed by the Gay Men’s Chorus of South Florida, and an auction of exclusive Pride jerseys to benefit local LGBTQ+ organizations. Florida was the first NHL team to host a pride night in 2013.
UP NEXT
- Devils: Visit Boston on Monday afternoon.
- Panthers: Host Anaheim on Monday afternoon.
